Economic development strategy & priorities

Council's Economic Development & Innovation Strategy and Delivery Program is our plan of action to help build prosperity and sustainable growth in the Cairns region.  You can view the Strategy and Delivery Program as an e-book below or download the PDF version - Cairns Economic Development & Innovation Strategy and Delivery Program- ( PDF, 2.84 MB )

Economic Development & Innovation Strategy objectives

  • A diversified, resilient and robust economy
  • A positive business environment
  • Innovation as a key driver of economic development
  • Investment attraction into the region
  • Strong local business and industry development
  • Export competitiveness

Delivery Priorities

Our Action Plan has five delivery priorities which will be implemented through targeted, performance-based action programs:

Delivery Priority Action Program
1. Innovation Agenda
  • Tropical Innovation Awards
  • Business innovation support
  • Cairns innovation profiling
2. Business Environment
  • Informed economy
  • Regional collaboration
  • Planning and governance environment
  • Digital economy infrastructure and adoption
  • ICT sector growth
3. Investment Attraction
  • Marketing for investment
  • Investment facilitation and stimulus
4. Business and Industry Development
  • Support established and emerging industries
  • Local area business and economy growth programs
  • International opportunities
5. Event Economy
  • Events strategy
  • Business events
  • Leveraging events-based economic development outcomes