Linking Australian Suppliers with Major Projects

24 Aug 11

Australian suppliers will be helped to compete for contract opportunities in five major projects in the lucrative resources and health sectors – from the proposed Northern Territory’s huge INPEX liquefied natural gas project to Asian hospital design and fit-out – with $1.2 million in Australian Government assistance.

Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr today announced the funding for the Industry Capability Network (ICN) through the Supplier Access to Major Projects (SAMP) program.

“The Gillard Labor Government is committed to ensuring competitive and capable Australian companies are given a fair go when tendering for contracts in an internationally competitive environment,” Senator Carr said.

“We are promoting the capability of Australian firms in areas where they may be overlooked. We have a lot to offer and sometimes all that’s needed is to make the right connections. That’s why the Australian Government is raising global and national awareness of the specialist capabilities and expertise of our industry suppliers.

“Our comparative isolation means Australia has had to develop its own technologies, products and processes in many different industry sectors and that expertise is now highly marketable globally.”

The Government announced the Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative in its 2011–12 Budget, which included additional funding for SAMP, to boost Australian industry participation in major resource sector projects. This will allow the ICN to work with a greater number of resources projects and further increase opportunities for Australian industry.

The five projects will help Australian suppliers access opportunities in China’s coal mining sector, INPEX’s proposed Ichthys LNG development project, Eni’s Kitan oil field development project and related infrastructure development projects in East Timor, oil and gas module contractors and global procurement hubs in Asia, as well as the engineering and fit-out of new hospitals in the ASEAN region.

For further information on SAMP please visit www.icn.org.au