Industry Capability Network

MARINE DATABASE OPEN FOR REGISTRATIONS

ICN's new Marine Database is now open for registrations.

If you are an Australian or New Zealand have capability for defence or commercial products and services then you should visit www.marine.icn.org.au where you can register your company on our new marine database.

The information you supply will be shared with the prime contractors and alliance partners on the major marine projects in Australia and New Zealand including Australian Defence's new Air Warfare Destroyer project.

IT’S JUST GOOD BUSINESS PARTNERING WITH US MULTINATIONALS

Partnering with US multinationals is one way Australian companies could boost exports and realise the benefits of the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade Bruce Billson said today.

Launching Australia and the United States: Trade and the Multinationals in a New Era, a new report from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Economic Analytical Unit, Mr Billson said US multinationals played a major role in the Australian economy.

ICN was consulted by DFAT in their preparation of the report particularly with regard to our experience in Australian companies engaging in global supply chains.  Further information on the report can be found at www.icn.org.au.

Details are available on the DFAT website (www.dfat.gov.au/eau).

Victorian jobs up over next decade but manufacturing stagnant

theage.com.au –  “The manufacturing sector will continue to stagnate, while some believe it may even shrink.”

Merchandise imports up in May

ABS  “Merchandise imports rose two per cent in May to $12.8 billion, new figures show.  The Australian Bureau of Statistics said the increase was largely due to a five per cent lift in the import of machinery and transport equipment to $5.8 billion.”

Australian manufacturing production falls

Bloomberg.com: – “An index that measures Australian manufacturing production fell to its lowest quarterly level in more than three years as weaker consumer demand led factories to cut their output.”

RFID to grow SAP, America, CEO says

Computer Business Review – “Not only will RFID "significantly" grow future revenue at software goliath SAP, it will make the US of America a more globally competitive country, according to chief executive of SAP America Bill McDermott”

Innovation the Key to Success for SMEs

Peter Roberts in the Australian Financial Review of 14 June points to a University of Melbourne study which highlights the importance of strategic innovation for above average performing SMEs.  AFR

The study found that were companies link strategic innovation to business planning the outcomes tend to be above the norms for that industry.

$100M RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM 'REDI' TO GO

Ministers - Industry, Tourism and Resources  A $100 million fund to support cutting-edge renewable energy technology development has been officially launched by Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane in Sydney today.

Mr Macfarlane launched the fund while visiting the largest producer of solar panels in the southern hemisphere, BP Solar, which employ more than 300 Australians and has a significant export market into East Asia and the Pacific.

The Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI) will provide matching competitive grants worth between $50,000 and $5 million to Australian businesses developing renewable energy projects with significant greenhouse gas abatement potential

Industrial growth 'losing some heat'.

ABC News Online  The latest Westpac-ACCI survey of industrial trends shows economic conditions are moderating, although there was a modest expansion in the second quarter of this year.  The survey shows manufacturers are still operating at a relatively high capacity but there has been an easing of demand and production since the first quarter.

Australian worker productivity falls

The Australian: THE productivity of the Australian workforce has fallen further over the past 12 months than at any time in the past 19 years.  The measure of output per worker dropped by 2.4 per cent in the year to March, and has slipped in each of the past four quarters.