Prime Minister Scott Morrison is heading to the United States with a visit alongside US President Donald Trump to Anthony Pratt’s new paper recycling mill in Ohio on the agenda.
The $400m plant in Wapakoneta, Ohio is a key development for Pratt Industries, a sister company to Australian recycling giant Visy and is set to be officially opened on Sunday.
Pratt Industries was founded in the USA 20 years ago and now has manufacturing facilities in more than 25 US states.
A statement from the prime minister’s office confirms Morrison’s visit includes an address to the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, a state dinner at the White House with US President Donald Trump with Washington DC, Chicago, Ohio and New York on the itinerary.
The statement does not mention a visit to the recycling plant specifically but a statement from the US Office of the Press Secretary on September 15 says Morrison and Trump will tour a new Australian-owned manufacturing facility in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
It’s been widely reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and The Australian that this Australian-owned facility is owned by Pratt Industries.
The statement from Morrison says he will be meeting with Trump and US Vice President Mike Pence, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss how “we can further strengthen our alliance and already close partnership.”
“The visit will be a valuable opportunity to further strengthen our security and economic partnership,” the statement says.
Morrison will also visit NASA’s headquarters and meet with tech entrepreneurs in Chicago.
Morrison’s visit also coincides with the United Nations Climate Action Summit on September 23 but Morrison will not be attending that event.
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