The Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) have announced a new program - the Small Business Export Loan, targeted at Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) exporters.  It's great that the Australian Government has recognised the importance of SMEs to growing Australian exports.

An interesting fact was presented at the EFIC breakfast on March 10. Since the Australian Dollar value lowering since 2013, agriculture and services exports have accelerated. Expectations are that manufacturing will follow, and this is great news for the mining industry. A great article explaining this is on the EFIC website.

The signing of the Free Trade Agreements with China, Korea and Japan could not have come at a better time. Now's the time to be export-focused, and it sounds like there is more assistance being made available for SMEs like iVolve.

Recovery for those in mining services will take longer in the post-boom era; understanding your customers’ needs is more important than ever. Innovation is mandatory.