The “South Australian Product Register” provides a free rating system for products manufactured or supplied in the state, measuring the local labour input throughout the supply chain process.

Businesses will be assessed on whether products are sourced, assembled, supplied, distributed and installed in SA, irrespective of the location of a company’s headquarters.

Launched by the State Government and co-promoted by Brand SA, the register is designed to help government departments, private enterprise and consumers to choose businesses based on their economic ties to the state.

An example of the product rating system featuring the Brand SA logo

Ratings will be listed on the Industry Advocate website and linked to business webpages.

The building and construction sector will be the first to trial the product register, with other sectors expected to be included in the coming months.

Industry Advocate Ian Nightingale said more than 300 expressions of interest have already been received from local manufacturing and supply businesses, with that number set to increase.

He said all sectors were encouraged to register their expression of interest.

“I expect it will be an incentive for national and even international businesses to think about how much of their supply chain can be delivered in SA,” Nightingale said.

“Once we gauge the level of interest from those businesses outside the building and construction sector we will look at building on the success.”

Deloitte Access Economics last week reported small business confidence in the state was at its best since 2013 and the new business survival rate was higher than any other state.