Efficient Equity and Credit Financing for the Rural Sector – New directions in rural and agribusiness finance

This Conference, and the research and planning which was necessary for its success, has brought together financial sector and rural and agribusiness sector expertise to take a new look at the issue equity and credit financing for the rural sector. Rural finance has had a long and sometimes turbulent history in Australia. This Conference was not intended to go over old ground but rather to look at whether, and in what ways, Australian agriculture can be more effectively integrated with Australia's highly sophisticated and internationalised financial sector. As the Conference Issues Paper points out more effective integration would result in productivity gains and further enhance Australia's international competitiveness.