ALMOST 2000 new businesses chose to set up shop in Dubbo in the five years to June 30, 2013, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) national regional profile.
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The ABS figures, released last week, reveal the total number of businesses in Dubbo increased by 284 in the five years of the data, and also outlines the number of existing businesses exiting, and new businesses entering, the market.
President of the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Matt Wright said the figures were a positive sign of Dubbo's continuing growth.
"That's probably no surprise, over the last five years we have seen a growth of the city and encouraging people to come to the city," Mr Wright said.
With campaigns such as Evocities actively promoting regional cities, including Dubbo, to metropolitan residents, Mr Wright said the city was being marketed as an attractive place to set up a business, as well as live.
"Generally we've got those people moving from those metropolitan areas and we're obviously attracting some professionals who are setting up their businesses here," Mr Wright said.
"Whether they are working and living in Dubbo, or whether they are living elsewhere and have just seen Dubbo as a good place to set up their business, those business people are seeing the benefits of establishing their businesses here in Dubbo."
The figures also reveal that Dubbo's business sector experienced significantly greater growth over the five years than either Orange or Bathurst.
From the year ending June 30, 2009 until the year ending June 30, 2013, there were 284 additional businesses in Dubbo (an increase of seven per cent). In the same period, Orange's business sector experienced a three per cent increase (or 88 additional businesses), while Bathurst saw a less than one per cent increase (22 businesses).
"I think it highlights the fact that Dubbo does present opportunities for new business," Mr Wright said of Dubbo outperforming Orange and Bathurst.
"We have trailed behind those other centres in the past and I think those numbers show we're now catching up. And I think, with new transport routes [that] are going to start, [they will be] providing even more new opportunities for Dubbo."
Each city saw increases in the number of new businesses in 2010, and drops in businesses exiting the market, which Mr Wright said might be attributable to government stimulus packages following the Global Financial Crisis.
Mr Wright also recommended business people look into the figures for themselves, and to "look at what opportunities there and what gaps are there in the Dubbo market?"
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics there was an overall increase in the number of businesses in Dubbo, with the biggest increase occurring in 2010.
- 2009: ..................3426
- 2010: ..................3591
- 2011: ..................3620
- 2012: ..................3677
- 2013: ..................3674
New businesses also peaked in 2010.
- 2009: ..................400
- 2010: ..................510
- 2011: ..................417
- 2012: ..................417
- 2013: ..................364