Western Australia's economic future relied on downstream processing and high-quality manufacturing and service sectors, Premier Carmen Lawrence said today.
"Since July last year, almost $180 million of investment has been committed to new manufacturing industries in Western Australia and another $1.2 billion in new projects and expansions are proposed," Dr Lawrence said.
"New manufacturing growth areas are taking advantage of the State's highly skilled and productive workforce and WA's proximity to the Asian region.
"And our education system is the base from which to nurture a creative and confident generation capable of applying the vision and imagination needed to make Australia more productive."
Launching an education resource package compiled by the Australian Manufacturing Council, the Premier said the Government encouraged community debate which was aimed at improving the State's international economic edge.
The package - The Global Challenge: Australian Manufacturing in the 90s - would be used by schools to encourage discussion of key issues facing Australian industry.
"Activating debate in schools will produce an understanding of current economic realities and give the next generation of business leaders an early insight into economic problem solving."
The Premier said that on a State basis, the Government was already taking up the global challenge by:
· increasing the exposure of Western Australian industry to international competition;
· providing support to Western Australian companies with an export orientation; and,
· reducing impediments to economic development.
The Government would continue to encourage an international perspective on the State's economy through initiatives such as next week's `Into Asia' conference aimed at attracting foreign investment in export-oriented ventures.
