By Casey Neill
There’s a new plan for the future of Victoria’s manufacturing sector.
The State Government unveiled the Advancing Victorian Manufacturing – A Blueprint for the Future strategy in Dandenong on Wednesday 13 September.
“Dandenong is a nation-leading manufacturing hub supporting thousands of local jobs,” Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said.
“We have to plan for the future of this industry, and that’s exactly what this statement is doing.”
Industry and Employment Minister Wade Noonan said $12 million in new funding and initiatives would back the blueprint.
It sets out four key actions: creating manufacturing jobs of the future; helping small to medium businesses grow, innovate and capture new market opportunities; strengthening the local supply chain; and finding export opportunities.
“Victoria is the home of manufacturing,” Mr Noonan said.
“This strategy is all about creating jobs of the future, growing businesses and taking Victorian innovation to the world.”
Last year, manufacturing experienced the fastest employment growth of any industry in Victoria with about 40,000 new jobs created.
The government’s Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Council, led by Ross Pilling, developed the strategy with input from businesses, industry associations, unions and research organisations.
“Manufacturing is one of Victoria’s great strengths,” Mr Pilling said.
“We have worked closely with industry to develop this strategy and ensure the sector is primed for future growth.”
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry applauded the strategy.
Melbourne Chamber of Commerce executive director Dianne Smith said advanced manufacturing touched all Victorians “from the food we eat to the trains and trams we travel on”.
“Doing all we can to make this sector as globally competitive as possible is vital if Victoria is to continue to be the home of cutting-edge innovation and new product design,” she said.
Visit economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/advancing-manufacturing to see the blueprint.
