VIC Manufacturing Minister to open NMW Conference

6 May 11

Reed Exhibitions recently confirmed that The Hon. Richard Dalla-Riva MLC, Victoria’s Minister for Manufacturing, Exports & Trade will open the NMW Conference, which runs from 25-26 May.

The Minister – whose pre-Parliamentary career includes senior management in the manufacturing sector - will outline his Government’s commitment to helping strengthen Victoria’s manufacturing base.

The core theme of highlighting new opportunities for manufacturers will be evident throughout N MW, on the exhibition floor and in the NMW Conference.

The NMW Conference will include a series of presentations focusing on industry and Government support programs, such as:

Smart Manufacturing support: Australian Government assistance programs available through AusIndustry for manufacturers interested in developing new capabilities;
VIC Government programs available through Enterprise Connect to bolster the State’s manufacturing sector;
Fostering Business between manufacturers and local suppliers: a joint discussion between the Industry Capability Network/ Enterprise Connect and Defense Industry Innovation Centre and Automotive Supplier Excellence Association
For the first time, NMW and Austech- will present innovateAustralia, a showcase of specific opportunities for manufacturers to get involved in aerospace, defence, renewable technologies, automotive, transport, medical and other sectors.

The  innovateAustralia section will take up over 350m² and will highlight opportunities for manufacturers to get involved, by specifying the products and services required, as well as the technical capabilities that manufacturers will need to access project supply chains. Importantly, representatives from these emerging industry sectors will be on-hand to discuss actual business opportunities.

NMW 2011 will also introduce to Victoria a new layout – introduced in Sydney last year – based on 10 colour-coded Product Zones – such as Electrical, Health & Safety, Welding, Information Technology and Engineering – to make it easy for buyers and sellers to find each other.

Exhibition Director for National Manufacturing Week, Paul Baker comments, "Manufacturers are addressing some of the most profound changes of the industrial age, as they adapt to changing markets and the transition to a low-pollution economy."

"With this in mind, a core focus of NMW will be on what Government support is available to support the innovations that will enable them to keep competing in coming years - as well as industry-identified opportunities to get involved in new and emerging markets."

"Which means participants in both the exhibition and NMW Conference will be rewarded with practical ideas and new contacts for their business," Baker adds.

NMW 2011 is free to trade visitors, while the NMW Conference registration fee is $990 for the two day event.

Registration for NMW and the NMW Conference is now open at www.nationalmanufacturingweek.com.au.

Provided by Reed Exhibitions