FEDERAL Treasurer Wayne Swan has urged Cairns to begin preparing this year for the G20 summit event to guarantee a lasting impression on the world's most powerful bean counters.

Although the finance ministers' meeting will not be held in the city until next year, Mr Swan said civic and industry leaders needed to begin forming strategies to showcase the region's investment potential.

"When the G20 comes to Cairns in 2014, I want businesses to use the event as an opportunity to help promote the cutting-edge operations you have going in your region," the Deputy Prime Minister wrote in The Cairns Post.

"I want business to be showcasing the world-leading innovation happening in this region, be it in agriculture, tourism, education, the service industry, hospitality, resources or in manufacturing.

"In many ways, the G20 will put Tropical North Queensland on the international stage, displaying to the world everything this great region has to offer."

A federal G20 taskforce is already planning the logistics and security of the Cairns meeting, which will bring almost 2000 international delegates and media members to the region.

Pressure is mounting for Cairns Regional Council to fast-track its City Place project and spruce up tired areas of the inner city in time for the G20 co-event.

"This not only includes the 20 G20 finance ministers from countries which account for a staggering 85 per cent of global economic output, it also includes international media and a whole host of support staff who will call Cairns home for the duration of the event," Mr Swan said.

"This activity alone will help inject millions of dollars into the Cairns local economy. That's why we're getting cracking on planning."

Mr Swan said he promoted Cairns to his international counterparts in Mexico, where the most recent G20 finance ministers' meeting was held.

"I took the opportunity to let my international counterparts know about the great city and the warm and friendly people waiting for them in Cairns in 2014," he said.

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