Representatives from over 70 businesses attended an industry briefing in Morwell to discuss supplier partnership opportunities with Rheinmetall Defence Australia.
Facilitated by Latrobe City Council’s Business Development team, Rheinmetall a world leading provider of innovative products for the defence and security sector, was particularly interested to hear from Gippsland businesses that are able to meet the significant engineering and manufacturing capability required by the emerging defence industry.
Latrobe City Council Mayor, Cr Dan Clancey said it was a nod to the regions skills and capabilities to have Rheinmetall meet with industry and discuss supplier partnership opportunities.
“We advocate heavily on local industry’s behalf to state and federal government on the immense capability and opportunity we have in Latrobe City,” Mayor Clancey said.
“Our City is transforming and we need to look at ways to diversify and play to our strengths. Meeting representatives from Rheinmetall provides a platform for businesses to express interest in the significant scope of work in the defence industry pipeline.
“The defence sector is a multi-billion dollar industry. We have the business knowledge, understanding and most importantly the skilled workforce capable of supplying project based design, engineering, manufacturing and maintenance to service these major defence projects.”
The Australian government is investing significantly in defence capability with over $200 billion directed to strengthening the country’s defence capability.
Rheinmetall is a key player in this market with the company delivering the BOXER 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle to the Australian Defence Force under the $5.2 billion Land 400 Phase 2 program.
