Alcoa HQ's shift to WA underlines Perth's emergence as 'corporate capital'

30/7/96

Premier Richard Court says today's announcement that Alcoa will shift its corporate headquarters to Western Australia further underlines Perth's emergence as a 'corporate capital'.

Mr Court said WA's strong economy, particularly its growing resources sector and proximity to the Asian region, made it an attractive and logical location for a company's corporate headquarters.

"Alcoa already plays a strong role in the WA economy with extensive refining and mining operations in the State," he said.

"The bulk of its employees are already based in WA and it makes good business sense to relocate its head office from Melbourne to Perth."

Mr Court said Alcoa's decision was in line with similar moves by other large companies such as Woodside, which had shifted its corporate base to Perth and moves by overseas interests such as Co-Flexip to choose Perth as the base for their South East Asian operations.

"The continued move towards downstream processing and the further diversification of the WA economy will, I am sure, provide the impetus for further corporate identities to shift or establish their base in WA," he said.

Resources Development Minister Colin Barnett also welcomed Alcoa's decision.

Mr Barnett said this was further evidence of recognition of WA as the resources capital of the South East Asia region.