With the Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement (PAFTA) now signed, Australian mining services company GroundProbe is extending its reach in the South American market.
GroundProbe is a global technology leader providing advanced hardware and software solutions to the mining and civil industries. Based in Queensland, the company exports over 80 per cent of its products, employing around 180 staff across 17 locations worldwide.
GroundProbe specialises in radar and laser-based geotechnical monitoring systems for civil construction and mining companies. These systems detect wall movement, providing an early warning of an impending collapse. With the assistance of monitoring, mine personal can save both lives and equipment, and ensure continuous production.
Peru is home to a number of large-scale mining operations. GroundProbe sees Peru as an excellent opportunity to export its systems and expand its market reach.
GroundProbe has been in the Peruvian market for over 10 years and has an office in the country's capital, Lima.
PAFTA will make it easier for Australian businesses such as GroundProbe to do business in Peru.
'We are expecting even more growth in Peru and the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries will certainly help to support that,' Noon says.
GroundProbe is also active in China, the US and Chile – three nations that have FTAs with Australia. GroundProbe is seeing the competitive benefits these agreements provide and is looking to expand its business into Mexico and Canada. Australia, Mexico and Canada are also involved in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP-11).
'In terms of our global expansion opportunities over the next several years, we're going to be growing more into the civil industry and underground mining,' says Noon.