The federal Government's export agency, Austrade, plans to double the number of exporters within three years, mainly through small businesses run by women.
Only four per cent of Australian businesses export. In 2000-01 there were 25,000 exporters, but Austrade predicts that by 2006-2007 the number will be 50,000.
"Austrade research has found most of the growth in the exporter community will come from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging industries," said Julia Selby, a senior executive with Austrade.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows women have become an increasingly important force in small business, with one in three firms having at least one female working proprietor, partner or director.
"Also, the number of businesses operated by females is growing faster than the number operated by males," Ms Selby said, with female-run firms up 14 per cent compared with 12 per cent for males.
