Minister releases trade and investment strategy in Bunbury

15/7/04 State Development Minister Clive Brown today released 'Going Global', Western Australia's first whole-of-government trade and investment strategy.

15/7/04
State Development Minister Clive Brown today released 'Going Global', Western Australia's first whole-of-government trade and investment strategy.
The launch of the strategy was made in Bunbury with Bunbury MLA Tony Dean, prior to an inspection of construction at Worsley Alumina's new Port of Bunbury berth.
Mr Brown said the strategy aimed to further strengthen WA's status as Australia's leading State economy and create new jobs and opportunities throughout the State.
"Despite having only 10 per cent of Australia's population, WA delivers more than 28 per cent of the nation's export wealth, making us the engineroom of the national economy," he said.
"However, if we are to continue to create new jobs and opportunities into the future, we need to attract new investment and build and diversify our export markets around the world."
The Minister said the strategy included details of how the Gallop Government would continue to boost trade and investment through:

  • enabling innovation and growth through investment attraction;
  • growing a sustainable exporter capacity;
  • advocacy in the federal arena; and
  • advocacy in the international arena.
Mr Brown said the strategy included a number of Government initiatives aimed at boosting trade and investment across a number of sectors, including food and beverages, education and training, marine and defence, resources, tourism, biotechnology and the creative industries.
Bunbury MLA Tony Dean said the port city of Bunbury was the perfect location to launch Going Global.
"The Port of Bunbury is one WA's most important ports, with total exports of over $3.5billion per annum," Mr Dean said.
"With the Bunbury port already the world's largest exporter of alumina, Bunbury is set to realise significant additional benefits from the current and future expansion of WA's alumina industry by Alcoa and Worsley.
"Going Global aims to build on this growth and create new jobs opportunities in Bunbury and throughout the State."
Mr Brown said if Alcoa's proposed $1.5billion Wagerup expansion passed the tough environmental hurdles the Government had set, the benefits to Bunbury would be significant. Increased throughput at the Port of Bunbury was expected to create 66 new full-time jobs alone.
Should increasing alumina production in WA and ongoing changes to domestic and global energy markets result in an aluminium smelter becoming viable in the South-West, the economic and employment impact on Bunbury would be even greater.
Minister's office: 9222 9699