It's said every cloud has a silver lining - and for business expert Anita Ratcliffe there's plenty of sunshine waiting above the cumulonimbus gathering over WA's economy.
Since joining the little known Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (Efic) as its WA state director in June, Ms Ratcliffe has attended over 250 meetings focused on finding ways to connect local businesses with overseas clients, exporting their products and expertise to create new markets and opportunities.
"The economy (in WA) is in transition, but with that said year on year businesses can get frightened by reports of statistics. What we're seeing is that by staying current and being positive there are opportunities," she said.
In simple terms, when an Australian company wants to export a product but can't get the support of a bank, Efic - a government agency - steps in and makes sure something can be arranged to allow the business connection to happen.
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Whether that's through assisted finance, supplying a guarantee for bricks and mortar or working finance is up to the individual case. But Ms Ratcliffe said the end goal is always the same - get WA businesses in the game.
"We're not very well known. Banks and others in the finance sector tend to know about us, but more and more small and medium businesses are coming to us."
As the resources sector continues its backward slide and the Perth CBD's vacancy rate rises to a 25 year peak, the economy is a big issue in WA right now - especially with a state election looming and both sides of politics talking up their visions of how the state can grow again.
Major construction projects, local investment and innovation are all being spruiked.
But a growing sector for the WA economy that doesn't get much attention is exports. And Ms Ratcliffe says the key to success there is grasping the opportunities as they come, no matter what's happening around you.
"In the resources sector, for instance, companies are looking for ways to reduce their costs of operations. So if a local business can come up with an innovative solution through streamlining the supply chain through exports, coming up with something effective, then they can get an edge.
"Also we see local businesses that may get approached by an overseas customer for a first order, and they don't quite know how to fill it. Those chances can be missed if you don't grasp them."
Wangara based Natural Water Solutions has expanded into the global market thanks to Efic's help after one the Philippines' largest companies registered interest in its products and an ongoing distributor relationship.
Quenton Leach, Founder and CEO of NWS, said without this support, they may not have been able to make the sale.
"The relationship is exciting because they're very proactive in finding new solutions to treat water with. They are currently doing this and treating municipality water with our products, as well as coconut plantations and hospitals.
"Since that initial export contract, our exports have continued to grow and now total about 50 per cent of the business revenue. The fact that quality is controlled from Australia is a huge positive for us when it comes to selling Australian quality goods overseas."
The work of developing innovation and creating new business opportunities can be difficult to articulate: WA's economy tends to be a simple dig it up and sell it story, with everything else flowing from that.
But though mining and resources continues to dominate the scene, new statistics from the independent research company Y Research show falling office rental prices in Perth's CBD are attracting new kinds of businesses to the city.
The proportion of CBD office stock occupied by education, technology, shared work spaces and medical companies has increased by over 20 per cent, with start-ups flowing in - in the kinds of businesses Efic can help grow.
"The key in 2017 is to start looking forward - it is difficult to know where you are going if you keep looking backwards," Y Research's Damian Stone said.
"As a resources city, our prospects are good. The long term outlook for Perth is positive; navigating the short term challenges will be the issue."
Ms Ratcliffe echoes that outlook, saying the future for WA's economy is positive, with high quality local businesses now starting to realise their fortunes are not tied to their local markets, but linked to the world's.
"With challenge and change comes opportunity. Businesses are being encouraged to broaden their horizons and look offshore to explore new options," she said.
"For us there has to be a benefit to Australia and Australian business we help. Australian businesses are the best at what they do, there is lots of demand for them out there."