A delegation from 16 innovative French companies and the French Maritime and Defence Clusters Pole Mer and GICAN flew to South Australia last week to check out the State’s world class maritime industry and forge new business ties between Australian and French Industries.
The delegation visited ASC’s submarine yard and also attended a meeting with key South Australian maritime industry representatives at the Defence Teaming Centre.
“This visit is another opportunity for us to demonstrate our capabilities to deliver world-class submarines and warships. The Future Submarines program is obviously a key focus for South Australia with companies from France and Germany, along with the Japanese Government having submitted bids for the submarine design,” said Minister for Defence Industries Martin Hamilton Smith ahead of his informal meeting with the group.
“We are ready to partner with whoever is successful in their bid and we strongly believe that all of the submarines should be built in South Australia as part of a continuous build program. Adelaide has an established maritime infrastructure and highly skilled workforce ready and capable of building not only the submarines but surface ships as well.”
He said the visit was further evidence of South Australia’s growing reputation as an innovation hub.
“Just last month we hosted a delegation of Japanese business institutions that was in town to consider South Australia as a future investment location,” the Minister added.
“We look forward to establishing opportunities to partner with these French companies on innovative new projects that will create jobs for South Australians across a variety of different sectors.”
