Austrade

Austrade is the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. It helps Australian companies export goods and services, attracts productive foreign direct investment into Australia, and leads national tourism policy. In the space domain it runs national pavilions at events such as the Space Symposium, connects foreign firms (for example Varda Space Industries) with Australian launch and return sites, and works with the Australian Space Agency and state agencies to promote launch, returns, ground stations and satellite capabilities.

The agency maintains a global network of roughly 100 locations and partners with industry bodies such as the Space Industry Association of Australia. It does not design or operate spacecraft; its role is facilitation, market access and investment attraction for the domestic space industry, which it reports as employing around 20 000 people and generating several billion dollars in annual turnover.

Established under the Australian Trade Commission Act 1985 and operational from 1986 (later renamed Australian Trade and Investment Commission). Headquarters are in Sydney at International Towers, Barangaroo. Staff number between 1 000 and 1 500.