The Queensland Government has launched its Queensland-Pacific Trade and Investment Strategy 2026-2028, outlining plans to deepen commercial engagement with Pacific economies and build on more than AUD 9 billion in existing trade links.
Led by Trade and Investment Queensland, the strategy positions the state as “Australia’s Pacific State”, citing Queensland’s geographic proximity and longstanding economic and cultural ties with the region.
The strategy identifies four priority sectors for growth — food and agribusiness, education and training, infrastructure, and energy technologies — reflecting increasing demand across Pacific economies for skills development, sustainable infrastructure and clean energy solutions.
Queensland’s exports to the Pacific exceed AUD 3 billion annually, supported by strong aviation and port connectivity and a large Pacific diaspora community. Around 35 per cent of Australia’s Pacific population resides in Queensland, according to the strategy.
The document points to favourable market conditions across the region, including a young and growing population, rising urbanisation and increasing demand for services and infrastructure. Pacific economies are projected to grow by about 3.4 per cent in 2026, presenting what the strategy describes as steady opportunities for exporters and investors.
It also highlights Queensland’s strengths in engineering, construction, training and renewable energy, positioning local companies to participate in major infrastructure and energy projects across the Pacific.
At the same time, the strategy acknowledges structural constraints, including small and dispersed markets, high logistics costs, regulatory inconsistencies and vulnerability to climate-related events, which may limit investment and project delivery.
To address these challenges, Trade and Investment Queensland said it would focus on facilitating business-to-business connections, supporting trade missions and strengthening government-to-government engagement to improve market access and participation in regional projects.
The strategy signals a shift toward longer-term economic engagement with the Pacific, moving beyond transactional trade relationships toward broader partnerships focused on regional resilience and development.
Download the strategy document here.
