On track for international gains
INTERNATIONAL business exposure tops a list of what Gold Coast businesses think will be the greatest legacy of the Commonwealth Games.
That is according to the Griffith University- Gold Coast Bulletin Business Confidence Poll, which found 29 per cent of respondents had an expectation of business growth, close behind international business exposure at 32 per cent.
The next two most popular choices for the greatest legacy were business innovation (22 per cent) and job creation (17 per cent).
Griffith University Pro Vice-Chancellor Business, Professor David Grant said the poll found a mix of optimism and cautious pragmatism.
“Confidence about growth and international exposure, in particular, is most likely feeding off positive expectations and the planning now occurring for the Games with more than 200 days to go until the big event,” Prof Grant said.
“Innovation is to be expected along with ongoing confidence particularly among local businesses that are mainly small and in sectors that re- quire firms to be innovative in order to be sustainable and successful.”
Prof Grant said evidence of long-term job creation at other large-scale events had, to date, been mixed.
“That being the case, the business community might understandably be adopting a wait-and-see position in this regard,” he said.
The poll also found there was a 10 per cent increase in the number of businesses expecting increased turnover in the quarter and 11 per cent intended to hire more staff.