$32m centre to help industry

By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG manufacturers will have the home ground advantage after the Federal Government launched a $32 million information centre catering for small and medium sized businesses.
The Victorian Manufacturing Centre will function as an information and networking resource for the state’s manufacturers.
It is located in Thomas Street, Dandenong.
Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Minister Kim Carr launched the centre last week and said that smaller manufacturers could now access information and help without it costing them the world.
“Victorian firms can now tap into the latest ideas and technologies by accessing a network with local roots and a global reach,” Senator Carr said.
“In this turbulent economic environment, the need for firms to innovate, improve productivity and find new efficiencies is more pressing than ever.”
Mr Carr said the centre would also host officers from the Industry Capability Network of Victoria, which provides similar functions, and that it would possibly host Austrade and CSIRO agents, too.
“This will give the Dandenong centre business capabilities second to none,” he said.
“It’s all about giving businesses a gateway to the wider innovation system.”
Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus urged Dandenong manufacturers to take advantage of the new centre.
“Small to medium enterprise in the region will be able to get help to become more productive and more competitive – building new markets and boosting their export readiness,” Mr Dreyfus said.