The Committee for Adelaide welcomes a number of initiatives outlined in the State Budget, delivered today by the Treasurer the Hon Tom Koutsantonis, that will assist SA to become a high-tech advanced manufacturing hub of the future.

We welcome the Government’s focus on encouraging new industries and new businesses – both home grown and from abroad – to establish themselves in South Australia.

This includes funding to directly support innovation, to fund fast internet to SA’s innovation hubs and to provide seed funding and venture capital and to attract investment from elsewhere.

We also welcome the funding allocated to build the State’s advanced manufacturing industry, based on defence.

Earlier this year Committee for Adelaide General Manager Matt Clemow joined the Premier in Cherbourg, France after the Federal Government announcement the future submarines would be built in Adelaide.

We recognised then, that this announcement needed to be built upon further to create a sustainable high tech manufacturing industry in SA.

The Committee for Adelaide has taken steps to strengthen the relationships between French and SA businesses.

We are pleased the Government has also responded by funding important upgrades to facilities; through initiatives to attract more defence industries to the state; and a focus education and training to ensure our young people have the skills required to take advantage of these opportunities in the future.

Matt Clemow, General Manager