Your partner for growth
The Northern Territory is a place as unique as the investment potential, with a willingness and attitude that creates opportunities and discovers new horizons. Our strategic location, abundant natural resources, enabling infrastructure, skilled and scalable workforce underpins the Northern Territory’s ambitious growth agenda.
Pro-business
Through proactive, progressive policy and renewed leadership, the Northern Territory Government has created a supportive business environment. We are an investor-friendly jurisdiction with competitive tax rates and business incentives.
We offer the most generous payroll tax-free threshold that no other state or territory in Australia can match, delivering a boost to your bottom line.
With access to affordable industrial land, linked to strategic infrastructure and transport corridors, the Northern Territory is an internationally competitive location for your business.
Backed by Australia
Doing business in the Northern Territory is underpinned by Australia's economy, one of the safest, low-risk investment destinations available.
Our political stability, regulatory framework and AAA sovereign risk profile provides investors with confidence and security. Australia is a global trading nation with 18 free trade agreements currently in force and established economic partnerships across the Trans-Pacific and the UAE, providing a competitive edge to exporters, importers, producers, and investors. And, as Australia’s gateway to Asia, the Northern Territory has strategic agreements with international trade partners, including Japan and Indonesia.
Culture of innovation
The Northern Territory is a destination where ideas can be conceived, trialled and sold to the world.
The Northern Territory Government is driving a growth agenda committed to infrastructure development and services, digital connectivity, research and development, as well as trade and investment to support our diverse industries and growing population.
A number of innovative, world-class products have been developed, tested and commercialised right here in collaboration with defence, education and other enterprises.
Gateway to Asia
Positioned closer to key Asian markets than any other part of Australia, the Northern Territory is uniquely equipped to forge strong economic, cultural, and strategic connections with the vibrant nations to our north and markets to the south.
We import and export high value products and have a global reputation for quality, safety and sustainability. The top destinations for Territorian goods over the past 5 years include Japan, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
Energy transition leader
We are developing some of the most advanced sustainable energy initiatives central to the global energy transition.
Our endowments comprise globally significant reserves of natural gas and mineral deposits, including critical and rare earth minerals, and some of the highest solar irradiance levels in the world. This will redefine the future of energy security, both in Australia and Asia, while supporting complementary developments in hydrogen industries, carbon capture and storage, as well as advanced manufacturing, underpinned by low cost energy, in the Northern Territory.
Security hub
We are recognised as Australia’s northern hub for defence, playing a key role in national and regional security matters and partnering with allies.
With a significant navy, army and air force presence, defence continues to be a consistent contributor to the Northern Territory’s economy. The Australian Government has committed around AU$5.96 billion of approved planned investment projects in the next decade which will stimulate local and international businesses and regional employment opportunities.
Attractive lifestyle
The Northern Territory offers a vibrant and prosperous lifestyle with an abundance of breathtaking landscapes and cultural history, attracting increasing numbers of visitors and residents from around the world.
We have a multicultural population, thriving arts and culture and internationally recognised education opportunities at Charles Darwin University and Flinders University. With shorter commutes to work and a cost of living lower than the national average, the Northern Territory presents an enviable lifestyle.
Culturally rich
As one of Australia’s most culturally diverse places, the Northern Territory has over 100 nationalities and around 140 social, cultural and religious organisations. We are enriched by our Aboriginal peoples, whose traditions and knowledge are woven into the fabric of the area.
By creating economic opportunities and employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, the Northern Territory enhances cultural understanding and drives sustainable development, offering a distinctive and inclusive atmosphere for businesses to align and flourish.
Strategic location
International flight times from Australian centres
| Destination | Darwin | Brisbane | Perth | Adelaide | Sydney | Melbourne |
| Dili | 1h 1m | 4h 6m | 3h 14m | 3h 43m | 4h 24m | 4h 19m |
| Denpasar | 2h 9m | 5h 5m | 3h 1m | 4h 18m | 5h 14m | 4h 58m |
| Singapore | 3h 51m | 6h 52m | 4h 27m | 6h 4m | 7h 2m | 6h 45m |
| Kuala Lumpur | 4h 10m | 7h 12m | 4h 42m | 6h 22m | 7h 21m | 7h 3m |
Times and distance to key markets by sea
| Destination | Darwin | Brisbane | Perth | Adelaide |
| Dili | 1 day 9 hours (495 nm) | 6 days 17 hours (2415 nm) | 4 days 14 hours (1642 nm) | 8 days 4 hours (2937 nm) |
| Jakarta | 4 days 6 hours (1532 nm) | 9 days 16 hours (3847 nm) | 4 days 22 hours (1763 nm) | 8 days 11 hours (3047 nm) |
| Bandar Seri Begawan | 5 days 1 hour (1816 nm) | 10 days 1 hour (3608 nm) | 7 days 4 hours (2586 nm) | 10 days 18 hours (3870 nm) |
| Singapore | 5 days 6 hours (1887 nm) | 10 days 16 hours (3842 nm) | 6 days 4 hours (2220 nm) | 9 days 18 hours (3504 nm) |
| Kuala Lumpur | 5 days 19 hours (2092 nm) | 11 days 6 hours (4052 nm) | 6 days 18 hours (2389 nm) | 10 days 5 hours (3673 nm) |
| Kaohsiung | 6 days 6 hours (2249 nm) | 10 days 19 hours (3888 nm) | 9 days 14 hours (3446 nm) | 13 days 4 hours (4741 nm) |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 6 days 11 hours (2327 nm) | 11 days 12 hours (4146 nm) | 7 days 15 hours (2742 nm) | 11 days 4 hours (4026 nm) |
| Hong Kong | 6 days 13 hours (2353 nm) | 11 days 8 hours (4080 nm) | 9 days 18 hours (3504 nm) | 13 days 8 hours (4799 nm) |
| Tokyo | 8 days 10 hours (3033 nm) | 10 days 23 hours (3942 nm) | 12 days 12 hours (4500 nm) | 14 days 17 hours (5299 nm) |
| Seoul (Incheon) | 8 days 13 hours (3068 nm) | 12 days 6 hours (4410 nm) | 12 days 3 hours (4364 nm) | 15 days 17 hours (5695 nm) |
| Mumbai | 12 days 19 hours (4598 nm) | 18 days 5 hours (6556 nm) | 13 days 17 hours (4919 nm) | 17 days 12 hours (6294 nm) |
| Dubai | 14 days 9 hours (5175 nm) | 19 days 23 hours (7182 nm) | 13 days 20 hours (4976 nm) | 17 days 6 hours (6208 nm) |
Enabling infrastructure
Reliable and efficient logistics; plentiful supply of housing and ready access to water and energy infrastructure are the key ingredients to unlocking future investment in the Northern Territory.
We strategically plan, align, develop, and deliver infrastructure to sustainably grow and de-risk investment in the Northern Territory.
Our infrastructure portfolio includes AU$4.1 billion investment in roads and AU$4 billion in remote housing as well as further investment in industry supporting major infrastructure projects such as:
- Regional Logistics Hubs along our rail line
- Darwin Ship Lift Facility and Marine Industry Park
- Middle Arm Precinct, and
- Darwin Regional Water Supply Program.