Cairns, Queensland - From 14 to 16 May, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia hosted a delegation of around 75 Canberra-based Ambassadors and High Commissioners and showcased Far North Queensland business and tourism in Cairns.

A press release was issued from Hon Julie Bishop's Office addressting the visit as an insight into the diversity and dynamism of Queensland’s economy and to better inform their home countries of the many trade and investment opportunities available.

Cairns is the economic and services hub of Far North Queensland, a vast and diverse area with a Gross Regional Production greater than $7.8 billion. The region boasts substantial resource and agricultural production – ranging from bauxite to beef – as well as significant aquaculture capacity and world-class education services. Tourism is also a major sector, with the region’s rainforests and coral reefs attracting more than 2,797,000 visitors annually.

At a Far North Queensland trade and investment showcase, local businesses were given the opportunity to directly promote their products and services to the heads of foreign diplomatic missions.

The diplomats were briefed by Queensland’s leaders in innovation, including Queensland Chief Entrepreneur Mark Sowerby, Dr Richard Knuckey who has pioneered breeding and exporting of large tropical fish, and representatives of She Flies, a company promoting science, technology, engineering and maths careers for girls through drone education.

They also visited the Cairns campus of James Cook University and learned about its world-leading work on strengthening tropical health systems and economic development in northern Australia and the region. The diplomats saw the University’s Mosquito Research facility and the Australian Tropical Herbarium and learned about research in biodiversity, tropical plant diseases and eliminating Dengue fever.

On the second day the diplomats had the chance to visit the outer Great Barrier Reef and saw first-hand the unparalleled efforts being undertaken to protect the Reef.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hosted a dinner for the diplomats in Cairns.