CHAMBER’S STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNS WELL WITH THE REGION’S FUTURE

The Minister congratulated the Chamber on its plan and said that its directions will build on past achievements and help to drive further growth and investment in the Geelong region.

The new plan, which is similar to previous Chamber plans but in a simpler format, recognises the serious challenges facing business and industry in the Geelong region and the ever present need for leadership, direction and representation not only in the region but also in Victoria and internationally.

Chamber President, Sue DeGilio, said that, more and more, Geelong sees multi-national companies, previously well entrenched in the Geelong economy, downsizing or closing down or electing to move off-shore where their businesses can thrive in more cost-effective environments.

“More than ever, the Chamber, as the leading advocate for business and industry in and for the region and, being truly representative of those areas, sees the need for it to strive to increase business opportunities in the Geelong region and strengthen support networks” she added.

The plan addresses these issues through its strategic priorities of advancing business and industry in the Geelong region, driving the knowledge economy and being part of an integrated drive and unified lobby of key Geelong stakeholders to ‘Put the Geelong Region First’.

The plan is also informed by the Chamber’s vision which is to see the Geelong region recognised nationally and internationally as one of Australia’s strongest and most prosperous centres of commerce and industry.

It also continues a long-standing priority of the Chamber which is to see the Geelong region embrace and benefit from the global knowledge economy by investing more in its human capital and becoming recognised as a Smart Region which will help attract new smart industries and businesses.

It can do this and achieve more through the promotion and support of its knowledge-based industries and the plan lists research and education as major economic drivers in the region.

The Chamber is now more confident of this happening with the recent partnerships of Deakin University with two major India-based companies - Biocon and Satyam Computer Services Ltd - which will result in thousands of high-tech jobs coming available in Geelong over the next ten years!

In response to Minister Neville’s comments at the launch, the Chamber President said that, over the next three years the Chamber will embrace change, seek out new opportunities, and will work closely with other stakeholders to present a unified approach to the needs of the Geelong region.

She said that the Chamber is also extremely mindful of its members and their business needs which are the real reasons for the Chamber’s existence. “The plan highlights the need to properly value the Chamber’s members and be responsive to their needs”.

As Minister Neville said at the launch, “Strategic Plans are only as good as the actions they produce and the results they deliver and the Geelong Chamber has a good track record of delivering for its members and the Geelong community over the past 155 years”.

Lawrie Miller

Executive Director