The group of industry leaders will be major contributors to the Australian Government’s new Industry Statement, to be finalised early next year, which will set the policy directions to maintain the country’s present economic momentum over the next 10 years.
Printing Industries CEO, Philip Andersen, is one of the 20 industry representatives asked to be part of the Minister’s inaugural roundtable meeting in Sydney.
Andersen says, the invitation is recognition of the importance of print to manufacturing, and as the core communication medium for products and services. It was also recognition of the industry’s expanding technological role in the digital communication world and on manufacturing generally.
Macfarlane says, with low unemployment and strong economic growth, Australia’s recent economic performance was the envy of the world.
“We have a window of opportunity now, while our economic performance is so strong, to determine what comes next and build a foundation to ensure our strong business momentum is maintained,” he says.
“However we are now entering an era of true globalisation, of communications advances that mean business without borders and the need for industry sectors to become regular contributors to global supply chains,” says Macfarlane.
At the meeting the Minister is expected to provide an introduction and overview plan for the continuation of and then invite each participant to make a brief statement on two or three major priorities they would like to see the Statement address.
“There are many new challenges facing our industries, including the rise of low-cost competitors like China and India. The Statement will be a considered plan to tackle the challenges while also highlighting opportunity,” Macfarlane says.
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“The next decade will be pivotal to Australian industry. Now is the time to consolidate all that has been achieved in recent times while adjusting to powerful new trends in the global market,” he says.
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