The Australian chemistry industry welcomes the Industry Growth Centre appointments announced today by the Federal Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP.
“Today’s appointments of eminent Australian business leaders are particularly significant. They will each play an important role in helping to steer collaboration to open up new opportunities for a globally competitive Australian economy,” said Samantha Read, Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (PACIA) CEO.
“The Industry Growth Centres prioritise the need for a coordinated approach to a national industry strategy, with a focus on the drivers of competitive advantage.
“Stronger collaboration between industry and research leading to more effective commercialisation; the development of our valuable skills and talent base; and the balancing of regulation to drive investment, are each significant levers to stimulate growth in the economy that can be advanced through the Centres.
“These ambitions are aligned with the Australian chemistry industry’s proactive strategic agenda to drive growth and competitiveness, the ‘PACIA Strategic Industry Roadmap’, launched last year. The Roadmap is informed by extensive independent foresighting research conducted by CSIRO, which has enabled the industry to identify key growth areas locally and globally.
“There is significant opportunity for an advanced manufacturing sector, enabled by Australia’s $40bn chemistry industry, to meet unprecedented growth in the fast emerging markets in our region.
“For example, the need for increased food production in response to global population growth is driving demand in advanced manufacturing and food and agricultural production. Chemistry enables products including fertiliser and silage wrap for our crops; innovative packaging to keep our food fresher for longer; and insulation for storage and distribution to reach global markets.
“To fully take advantage of these significant opportunities it is important to recognise that the Australian economy is a highly connected web of industries that support each other through product and service inputs. A whole of value chain approach will be essential to enabling Australia to maximise comparative advantage.
“The Australian chemistry industry plays a critical enabling role in value chains across the nation, supplying inputs to 109 of Australia’s 111 industries. These include advanced materials for products, technologies and process improvements.
“We believe the Australian chemistry industry can play an important role in helping unlock the dynamic linkages between the Industry Growth Centres.
“We congratulate all members of the Advisory Committee and Growth Centre Chairs. PACIA has a strong history of working in partnership to drive outcomes, and we look forward to collaborating through the Industry Growth Centres to help build Australia’s next phase of growth,” said Samantha Read.
Download ‘PACIA Strategic Industry Roadmap’
Contact: Claire Selby, [email protected], 0448 028 876.
Released 17 February 2015
About PACIA
PACIA is the pre-eminent national body representing Australia¹s $40bn chemistry industry, whose businesses directly employ 60,000 people and contribute approximately 11.5% of total Australian manufacturing production. PACIA members comprise a broad range of companies positioned across the entire value chain. Members include chemicals manufacturers, importers and distributors, logistics and supply chain partners, raw material suppliers, plastics fabricators and compounders, chemicals and plastics recyclers and service providers to the industry. These businesses range from small family-owned companies and innovative medium-sized enterprises, to leading national and multinational enterprises.
