The New South Wales Government has released draft Industry Action Plans for the manufacturing, professional services, international education and research and digital economy sectors for final consultations.

 

The Industry Taskforces – four of six established by the NSW Government, with Creative Industries and Visitor Economy to report separately – have identified high-level strategic needs common across sectors, including actions to reduce business costs; improve government procurement processes; and raise the global profile of Sydney and NSW.

 

The International Education and Research Taskforce has developed draft recommendations to address the substance of what NSW has to offer international students as well as how NSW can better market and promote our offerings. In particular the recommendations address those key factors which influence international students’ decisions to study in NSW: the quality of teaching and research, the reputation of our teaching and research institutions and the quality of the international student experience in NSW.

 

The Professional Services Taskforce has identified that both the professional services industry and the NSW Government must work together to make NSW Centre of Leadership for the Professional Services Industry in Australia and the Asian Region. The Professional Services Industry Action Plan draft seeks to build on Sydney's standing as a globally recognised centre for professional services, making NSW a key constituent of global knowledge and decision making networks, and improving local industry competitiveness and innovative capability. The Professional Services Industry Action Plan includes a focus on finance and insurance, legal and regulatory services, and engineering services.

 

The Digital Economy Taskforce recognises that a strong and vibrant Digital Economy is essential to address the challenges facing the NSW economy over the next decade and to drive economy growth in NSW. It has the potential to transform existing industries, drive efficiency and productivity, and create new opportunities for Australian businesses to export innovation. The Digital Economy Industry Action Plan has a focus on digital content and applications, information services and analytics, and smart networks and intelligent technologies.

 

The Manufacturing Taskforce recognises that manufacturing companies need to agile, innovative and provide superior solutions to meet customer needs in order to grow and be successful in a highly competitive global environment and supply chain. The draft Manufacturing Industry Action Plan outlines the dual role of industry and Government in supporting the NSW Manufacturing industry and whilst recognising the particular strengths in food processing and beverage manufacturing, metal manufacturing, machinery and equipment manufacturing (including biomedical and medical devices, renewable energy technology and defence equipment), has taken a holistic view to lifting performance across entire supply chains.

 

"The release of draft Action Plans for each of these key industry sectors is the penultimate stage in the process, with further opportunity for consultation before the completion of the final Industry Taskforce reports later this year," Acting Premier Andrew Stoner said.

 

Industry stakeholders are invited to review the draft Action Plans and make final submissions by July 30. For more information and to make submissions visit haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/iap.