Innovation the key to boosting marine sector productivity
The Queensland Government has announced a new plan to remove the barriers to grow Queensland's diverse marine industries and boost the uptake of innovative ideas and technologies. Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said the Marine Sector Action Plan would set a course of continuous productivity improvement for an industry of economic significance to Queensland.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The Queensland Government has announced a new plan to remove the barriers to grow Queensland’s diverse marine industries and boost the uptake of innovative ideas and technologies.
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said the Marine Sector Action Plan would set a course of continuous productivity improvement for an industry of economic significance to Queensland.
“The State’s marine sector has an annual turnover of $2.6 billion and employs over 11,000 people which is 34 per cent of the total workforce in this sector,” she said.
“Queensland manufacturers also produced two-thirds of all recreational boats exported from Australia – valued at $190 million – in 2005/06.
“We’re now the favoured location for establishing and growing marine businesses.”
Ms Boyle said the State Government would work with industry to ensure Queensland had the necessary infrastructure and regulatory environment to support the industry.
“We will also continue to invest in skills and innovation and encourage industry to be open to emerging technologies and new practices to ensure they remain at the top of their game,” she said.
“And with the majority of the industry made up of small to medium sized enterprises, we’ll have more success attracting bigger contracts if we can work together and share resources.
“Collaborating will also help more firms participate in and benefit from research and development activities.”
Ms Boyle said specific actions under the plan included the recent launch of the State-wide Superyacht Strategy, improving industry access to innovation funding and assistance programs and identifying future waterside sites for infrastructure development along Queensland’s coastline.
Marine is one of 15 priority sectors identified in Queensland’s new Smart Industry Policy.
The Minister launched the Plan at a meeting of the Marine Industries Reference Group in Brisbane this week ( March 19 ).
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