Multimedia Victoria - $245 Million Strategy Boosts Victorian ICT Industry
$245 Million Strategy Boosts Victorian ICT Industry |
| Media release - 19 November 2008 |
| Victoria's information and communication technology (ICT) sector was given a major boost today as part of the Brumby Government's $245 million industry strategy unveiled in Melbourne. Acting Information and Communication Technology Minister Gavin Jennings said Building Our Industries for the Future, launched by Premier John Brumby, would boost the ICT sector by enhancing skills and capabilities for the businesses of the future. "The Brumby Government is taking action to develop the Victorian ICT industry so we remain at the forefront of new technology," Mr Jennings said. "Building Our Industries for the Future includes $1.84 million towards a comprehensive ICT skills package, geared at boosting the number of skilled workers in Victoria. We have more ICT students than any other state and many successful programs attracting young people to ICT careers – and we want to extend that lead." Mr Jennings said the industry strategy also committed $3 million to continuing the successful Trade Events and Export Assistance Program for the next three years to help local ICT business seek out and win export success. "In the last year, 254 grants were provided to Victorian ICT companies through the program and this is projected to generate more than $227 million in exports over the next 24 months," he said. "In addition, we have also committed $350,000 towards a program to encourage industry to shift to Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), the next generation internet, which will provide industry with an unlimited number of IP addresses to cater for business expansion." As part of Building Our Industries for the Future the Brumby Government will also allocate $500,000 to host the Australian Information Industry Association iAwards in Melbourne for the next five years, and set up a Victorian ICT Hall of Fame to honour outstanding business leaders. This range of initiatives builds on the Brumby Government's injection of $300 million in the Innovation: Victoria's Future strategy released in August this year. "The Brumby Government recognises the crucial importance of the ICT sector to the state's economy. Today's announcements are an important part of our long-term strategy to protect and grow the Victorian economy into the 21st century," Mr Jennings said. Victoria's ICT industry generates $24.4 billion in annual revenue, exports over $1.8 billion and employs more than 85,000 people, accounting for about 34 per cent of national ICT employment. Since 1999, the Victorian Government has facilitated more than $1.7 billion in ICT investment leading to the creation of more than 12,000 jobs. |
| Skills information on the Multimedia Victoria website |
| Trade Events and Export Assistance Program information on the Multimedia Victoria website |
