
Subsea Energy Australia (SEA), the peak body for subsea supply and services companies in Australia, will receive $1.4 million from the Federal Government to establish itself as an export hub.
The funding will enable SEA to assist small and medium enterprises through international promotion, trade missions and developing export strategies based on Australian skills and technologies, bringing Australia into the global supply chain, and increasing local Australian jobs.
The initiative aims to further assist business continuity and recovery of the Australian subsea industry in a post COVID-19 world environment. SEA will work closely with sister organisation, Subsea Innovation Cluster Australia (SICA), to promote Australian developed, world leading subsea technologies.
Minister for Industry, Science and Innovation, Karen Andrews said the grants would help SMEs to harness opportunities in international markets, which will be an important part of helping them bounce back and create jobs after the coronavirus pandemic.
“These grants will help get businesses back on the front foot after the disruption caused by this unprecedented pandemic,” Minister Andrews said. “I’m confident demand for Australian goods and services will be even stronger when we come out the other side of this pandemic, and the Government is committed to helping businesses develop export opportunities and connections.
“These export hubs help SMEs take advantage of opportunities around the world, which will drive economic growth here at home and create new Australian jobs.”
Marius Martens, Chairman of SEA said that as an export hub, the organisation will engage with SMEs within the industry, promoting export opportunities and help businesses obtain skills to harness opportunity on a global scale.
“A large proportion of the gas that has made Australia one of the biggest exporters of LNG in the world is extracted subsea; and when I say subsea, we’re talking some of the deepest, cyclone prone and remote conditions in the world. The skills and technologies, which makes this possible are unique and can be exported internationally to bring further jobs to Australia,” said Mr Martens.