CITBA About Us

About Us

Acknowledgement of Country

CITBA acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples, the First Australians, as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders, past and present, and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

About CITBA

The Centre for International Trade and Business in Asia (CITBA) is a cutting-edge research center located at James Cook University. With its headquarter in Australia, and as the only research center within the College of Business, Law, and Governance (CBLG) at James Cook University Australia, CITBA is dedicated to providing leadership in research excellence.
Since its establishment in 2018, CITBA has focused on researching key areas such as tropical ecosystems, conservation and climate change, industries and economies in the tropics, and people and societies in the tropics. It has grown to include more than 50 scholars from both James Cook University Australia and James Cook University Singapore. The goal of CITBA is to increase and share knowledge about the opportunities in economic development, business and international trade in Asia and the Asian Tropics. CITBA actively advocates for research and industry engagement in the business and international trading hub of Asia and the Asian Tropics, and with its multi-location structure, it works to strengthen research and economic ties between Australia, Singapore, and other countries.

CITBA conducts a variety of activities to support its research goals. Some examples of these activities include:

  1. Research Projects: CITBA conducts original research on topics related to international trade and business in Asia, such as trade policy, business strategies, and economic development in the region.
  2. Workshops and Conferences: CITBA also hosts conferences and workshops to bring together scholars and industry leaders to discuss current research and trends in the field.
  3. Public Outreach: CITBA engages in public outreach activities to share its research findings with the broader community. This may include publishing articles, creating educational resources, or giving public talks.
  4. Collaboration: CITBA collaborates with other research centers, universities, government agencies, and businesses to further its research goals.
  5. Partnership: CITBA also have partnerships with other Universities or research centers, to share knowledge and resources and to expand their research scope.

Our Mission:

The mission of the Centre for International Trade and Business in Asia (CITBA) is to serve as a leading  research and collaboration centre for enhancing the performance and quality of research at James Cook University, as well as for supporting firms and industries to compete in the global market. CITBA achieves this through its partnerships with industry leaders and by using rigorous research methods to provide practical solutions for academic practitioners, government agencies, business owners, industry associations, and universities. CITBA's approach is straightforward: to strategize, research, and engage with stakeholders to drive innovation and growth in the field of international trade and business in Asia.

CITBA operates by bringing together scholars from James Cook University's Australian and Singaporean campuses in interdisciplinary teams that foster a culture of innovation and excellence in research. With a focus on Asia and the Asian Tropics, CITBA conducts research that provides businesses, governments, and partners with expertise and knowledge across a range of research topics and flagship areas.

Our Objectives:

  1. To conduct high-quality, interdisciplinary research on topics related to international trade and business in Asia, with a particular focus on the Asian Tropics.
  2. To provide expertise and knowledge to businesses, governments, and other partners to support their growth and competitiveness in the global market.
  3. To foster collaboration and partnerships between scholars, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to drive innovation and economic development in the region.
  4. To enhance the research performance and quality of James Cook University by providing opportunities for faculty and students to engage in cutting-edge research and to develop their skills and knowledge in the field.

For more information on how the Centre for International Trade and Business in Asia (CITBA) can assist your organization, please reach out to us at CITBA@jcu.edu.au,

We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you in the near future.