The Hodgman Government has hit the ground running with a determination to grow our advanced manufacturing and defence industries sector. The recent successful trip to the United States has been an extremely positive step to help deliver on our Plan.
With Tasmania’s Defence Advocate Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Steve Gilmore, the Trade Mission gave my team and a group of local organisations, including private businesses and the University of Tasmania, the opportunity to meet key Defence Industry representatives and US Navy officials, including US Under Secretary Thomas Modly.
I’ve invited Mr Modly to Tasmania, as well as the US Navy, to visit our ports and advanced manufacturing facilities in the future.
Attendance at the Sea Air Space Expo in Washington and private meetings with US Defence representatives and private defence businesses provided invaluable networking opportunities and helped build global relationships for our Tasmanian companies.
I was extremely proud to be on this Trade Mission with such high quality innovative Tasmanian businesses including Pivot Maritime International.
PMI, which manufactures state-of-the-art simulation systems, made several new key relationships through the Trade Mission and is confident of growing its business.
We will see these relationships grow in coming months, years and well into the future for the State and local businesses.
Tasmania has about 30 businesses already operating in the defence sector generating sales revenue of $340 million a year in areas including design, manufacture and service of maritime parts for naval ships and submarines for the Australian, New Zealand, Singapore, US and Israeli defence forces.
The Australian Government plans to invest $195 million in defence in the next 8 years and we believe there is significant growth and opportunity in this sector for Tasmanian companies focused on high quality advanced manufactured niche products – for which Tasmania is widely regarded.
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