The applications for 32 jobs at the RIC have included 86 people from Orange.

Agriculture minister David Littleproud said in Orange on Wednesday the response was “mind-blowing.”

“When you have got 340 people from around the world that want to come and live in regional and rural Australia it goes to prove we are better than anyone else in this country and regional and rural Australia can do it just as good as anyone else,” he said.

Mr Littleproud said the applications would be assessed from Friday with the appointment of a CEO for the RIC also to be made soon.

“We hope to be in here with the building [in Kite Street] fitted out by December,” he said.

He said the RIC should lead to other investments.

“If we make strategic and smart investments in regional and rural Australia invariably small business and large business will follow us,” he said.

He called on the Opposition to back the RIC after he said it voted against it and had sought to shut it down.

“This isn’t pork-barreling this is an investment in regional and rural Australia,” he said.

Mr Littleproud said while the RIC was primarily involved in managing concessional loans, with 49 loans currently being assessed, he wanted it to take on a wider role including making it easier for young people to get into agriculture.

RIC interim CEO Matt Ryan said the local job applications were competitive.

“They certainly have the skill sets in Orange and we’ve also got a number of applications from people as far as overseas, Tasmania, Queensland, WA and SA who want to make the change and come to Orange,” he said.

“The roles we are looking at are things like corporate services, HR, finance, IT, but also loan assessors, credit managers, policy officers, outreach officers, business development managers, things like, so a full range of jobs is available.”

Member for Calare Andrew Gee said he was pleased at the local response.

“A very large proportion [of applications] are from this local area and I think that’s really encouraging as it shows there is a huge amount of interest in it,” he said.

READ MORE: 32 jobs on offer: ‘Barnaby Bank’ in Service NSW building and recruiting staff

READ MORE: Farmers can now borrow twice as much from regional investment body

“The RIC plays a key role in providing drought support in these very difficult times, for people not only in this region, but from around Australia who are suffering under this drought.”

“This is a great example of decentralisation actually working.”

The RIC also held an information session for farmers in Orange on Wednesday.