Industry Capability Network

SAMP Pod Cast

Download samp_global_1.mp3

SME'S AND EXPORT

Ross Gittins in the Sydney Morning Herald has pointed out the significant impact the SME sector has on exports for the Australian economy.

" ..... if you thought exporting was an activity restricted largely to big business, you'd be wrong. Of the almost 30,000 Australian businesses engaged in export, 32 per cent are medium-sized and 54 per cent are small." he writes.

The Industry Capability Network is working closely with Austrade to identify both demand side opportunities and supply side capabilities to enhance the global activities for all Australian businesses.

ICN and Austrade have databases where companies can register their capability and also their interest in or current activities in export markets.

For more information contact your local ICN office details of which can be found at www.icn.org.au.

AEEMA Excellence Awards

Australian companies are encouraged to enter the AEEMA Excellence Awards.  There are many categories in these prestigous Awards for the electrical, electronics and information communication and technology sectors.

Angus Robinson, Chief Executive of AEEMA, says that winning an AEEMA Excellence Award may lead to increased company profile, generate greater customer confidence, and open doors to valuable partnerships and external investment opportunities.

The AEEMA Excellence Awards and Gala Dinner – a key event associated with the Manufacturing Technology InFocus Exhibition – will be held on Wednesday 18 October 2006 in Melbourne.

For 2006, they have expanded the award categories to include:

• Outstanding Achievement in Australian Electrical Manufacturing
• Best New Product in Electronics/Hardware
• Best New Product in ICT/Software
• Excellence in Exporting (including new exporters)
• Cleaner, Greener, Smarter Excellence Award
• AusIndustry Award for Excellence in Innovation and Commercialisation of R&D
• Excellence in Smart Manufacturing
• Excellence in Commitment to Skills/Education
• Excellence in Technology Reporting by Media
• The Richard Brett Excellence in Individual Commitment to Industry Development Award

Please note that the deadline for submitting entries is fast approaching - Friday 23 June 2006. If you have not already indicated your intention to enter, we encourage you to do so by emailing Emma Johnson < mailto: ejohnson@aeema.asn.au > as soon as possible.

The nomination documentation is also available at http://www.aeema.asn.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=628

FEDERAL BUDGET SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY

Industry Minister Hon Ian Macfalane announced as part of the Federal Budget boost to the Australian Industry Participation program through expansion of two key components.

Australian Industry have received specific support through the Federal Budget with improvements to both the Supplier Access to Major Projects Programme and the Enhanced Project By-Law Scheme.

SAMP will enjoy an additional $4.2 million over the next 4 years.  SAMP provides for grants to assist companies with major projects locate Australian suppliers and to assist those suppliers enter global supply chains.

EPBS has been expanded to include the power and water utility sectors. Expanding the Enhanced Project By-law Scheme will increase opportunities for Australian small to medium businesses to participate in major investment projects and gain entry to global supply chains.

Industry Capability Network Ltd manages the SAMP program on behalf of the Department of Industry Tourism and Resources and ICN offices assist applicants for EPBS across Australia.

More information can be found at:

http://minister.industry.gov.au/index.cfm?event=object.showContent&objectID=177DA1D3-ED89-F6BC-1B96B80069E41C86

http://minister.industry.gov.au/index.cfm?event=object.showContent&objectID=1813CA31-0D6B-EE55-CEDC0750F2E7DFE0

PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT FORUM

ICNL's Executive Director is just one of many speakers at this years Public Sector Procurement Forum being held on May 17 and 18 at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra.

Speakers include the Rt Hon Helen Liddell, the British High Commissioner and Colin Lyne from the Dept for Constitutional Affairs in the UK as well Keith Trower the Deputy CEO CIPS UK.

More information can be found on the attached pdf file.Download the_public_sector_procurement_forum_2.pdf

SME EXPORT GROWTH

Tim Harcourt writes in to-days Financial Review that ...

"Australia's 31,000 strong exporting community comes in all shapes and sizes. Many of our exporters are also quiet achievers - small businesses run in the suburbs (real-life versions of Kath and Kim). ... International evidence also shows that exporters help the long-term survival of firms in the economy.

He also points out that high exchange rates, oil prices and an unsettled global political environment, and not causing exporters to lessen their expectations of success.   He suggests that the emergence of formal trade agreements and regional negotiations are helping more Australian exporters move into new opportunities in world markets.

ICN has been working closely with Austrade and jurisdictional export departments to foster opportunities for Australian companies into global supply chains.  ICN consultants have access to enquiries for export supply.  Companies should register their capability on our database at www.icn.org.au so that our consultants can provide their details to potential buyers.

Manufacturing Can Be Competitive

Peter Roberts in the Australian Financial Review of January 17, 2006 points to the exodus of manufacturing jobs to low cost countries.

However it is not all bad news with Australias' skills base, innovation, intellectual property and technology giving us competitive advantage in some sectors.

Holden General Manager Denny Mooney is quoted in the article "In the global business that we are in, you have know whether you can be competitive or not." 

Defence Supply Conference

A conference aimed at companies who provide support to Expeditionary Forces will be held in Canberra in early 2006.   It will include a masterclass on successfully integrating and embedding contractor support into combat operations.

Those interested in attending should contact Alistair Forbes  from the company  organising the event, International Quality & Productivity Centre (IQPC), on 02-92291037.

(ICNL is not involved in the organisation or running of the event and has no affiliation with IQPC).

USA TRADE DATA INTERESTING

ICNL has completed an assignment researching the alignment between Australian exports and USA imports.

Out of the hundreds of products and services traded 25 were highlighted for detailed research and 5 have been classified as high value / high return opportunities. 

Sectors of interest include:

• Soap and soap covered materials
• Packaging materials
• Video projectors
• Radio transceivers
• Medicaments

Whilst this does not mean that companies in those sectors will be certain winners in the US market it does indicate that niche opportunities for innovative Australian companies with an apetite to export do exist.

ICNL will be working with their state based members and Austrade to further identify capable and export ready companies within these sectors.

NETWORK PERFORMS AGAIN

The Industry Capability Network again proved an excellent return on the stakeholder's investment in 2005.

Analysis of the statistics for the 2004-05 year show that Australian companies enjoyed contracts to the value of $646 million which might otherwise have gone to overseas destinations.  This brings the total contracts since the Network started collecting national statistics to $5.5 billion.  Given that every $1 million dollars spent locally generates or maintains 17 jobs then the economic benefits are obvious.

ICNL also runs the Supplier Access to Major Projects on behalf of the Federal Department of Industry Tourism and Resources.  Last year SAMP grants to a value of $754,000 were issued and from these contracts for Australian companies amounted to $213 million, a extremely good return on investment.  Since commencement of the program $1.194 billion in contracts have been realised.