HUNTER residents have been urged to back the state government's 'Buy Regional' campaign by finance and small business minister Damien Tudehope.
Visiting Newcastle to address a Hunter Business Chamber development forum luncheon, Mr Tudehope encouraged residents to buy Christmas gifts through the online platform that allows retailers and producers in drought-affected areas to market their products to a wider customer base.
"Small businesses are the backbone of the NSW economy, with 765,000 businesses operating across the state," he said.
Mr Tudehope addressed luncheon guests on Friday on issues ranging from the drought impact to reforms to payroll tax and need to streamline approvals for business.
The minister also visited The Business Centre in Newcastle where he met with owners and operators of a range of Hunter businesses that have successfully scaled up with the help of the Government's $30 million Business Connect program.
These included the Grainfed Brewing Company, a Newcastle craft beer producer; agtech company Bee Innovative, which employs technology that maximises pollination to increase yield; and Early Start Speech Pathology, a growing Wallsend health services provider.
