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The Border Watch : October 24th 2013
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NEWS TIPS newsroom@tbw.com.au NEWS 7 Timber sector strength in numbers M S sa MORELLO SANDRA sandra@tbw.com.au ONE of the world’s leading industry cluster experts has told a delegation of regional forestry sector business leaders in Mount Gambier to work together to strengthen the industry and drive new innovation. The presentation - from Professor of International Business at Sweden’s Stockholm School of Economics Orjan Solvell - addressed a number of key issues, including how clusters work, the benefi ts of working within a cluster and how to get regional companies working in collaboration. Prof Solvell said industry clusters had been working in overseas countries in Europe for many years and called on businesses to work together and become a cog “in the global wheel of markets and value chains”. He said joining a cluster would enable industries to survive changing markets and conditions, such as customers pulling out suddenly. “When you have linkages, you are in a much stronger position,” Professor Solvell said. He said clusters could lead to new innovations in products and services, which would drive growth. Regarding South East forestry, he said there appeared to be a growing South East companies encouraged to unite and drive innovation PAVING A WAY FORWARD: Mount Gambier timber industry representatives Daryl Whitehead and Gerret Springer talk to Professor Orjan Solvell, who is one of the world’s most recognised experts in industry clusters. Picture: SANDRA MORELLO interest from industry to establish clusters to explore new opportunities. “There is also talk in Adelaide and here about whether we should also do something in engineering, food and wine,” he said. Professor Solvell said the forum this week was attended by local gov- ernment and forestry representatives and momentum surrounding the idea of clusters was growing. “There is a common thread that yes, we are prepared to do something,” Prof Solvell said. But he said it was unfortunate that many business representatives were missing from Tuesday’s meeting. “With any cluster it is about diversity - you want to see representatives from different industries from within forestry industry,” Prof Solvell said. He said it appeared the seed for change had been sown in the South East following work being undertaken by the State Government. Meanwhile, Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade Minister Tom Kenyon said Professor Solvell’s visit followed on from the recent release of the stage two report from the Cellulose Fibre Study by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. “He’s internationally regarded as a thought leader in areas such as economic development, business competitiveness, innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship, so it’s extremely valuable to have someone with his expertise visiting the region at this time,” Mr Kenyon said. “The stage two report from the Cellulose Fibre Study provides a clear roadmap of higher value-added pathways for the South East forestry industry, of which industry collaboration has been identifi ed as a vital part of the process,” Mr Kenyon said. Forests Minister Gail Gago said the study was a vital reference for the South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board to provide the State Government with advice and recommendations about the future strategic needs of the forest and forest products industries. “This work will help the sector transition to a creative, agile and globally competitive advanced manufacturing industry,” Ms Gago said. A question and answer session facilitated by Dr Nafty Vanderhoek from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland followed the presentation. DEAL CLINCHED: Flinders Professor of Medical Biotechnology Chris Franco, Australian Kelp Products founder Bevan Mills, Gather Great Ocean Group chairman Wu shipeng, Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi and Flinders Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development director Professor Wei Zhang welcome yesterday’s agreement. From front page Documents to fi nalise the deal were signed in Adelaide yesterday by AKP founder and managing director Bevan Mills and the Chinese company president Wu shipeng. Welcoming the move as “fantastic news”, Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast chief executive Mike Ryan said it was just what was needed following the economic downturn in the region in recent times. “It is very exciting that new jobs and a new industry of this size and scale will be created,” Mr Ryan said. “I want to congratulate Bevan Mills - who started on this project about 20 years ago - on developing his proposal to this point and for realising the potential of the project - his persistence has paid off. “I am also pleased for the people in the Wattle Range Council area who have done it tough in recent years with job losses at Kimberly-Clark and Safries.” AKP has grown from a one-man harvesting and processing operation at Beachport in the 1990s to its current base in recent years at the former Cellulose mill at Snuggery, where around six people are employed. CLASSIFIEDS FOR ITEMS UNDER $100 (see conditions below) Picture courtesy of Ashton Claridge, Flinders University Sale deal secures industry growth Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi , who attended the signing of the deal at Flinders University in Adelaide yesterday, described it as a positive announcement for the region given the extent of job losses in manufacturing and food processing in recent times. He said Flinders University, AKP and the Qingdao company had been involved in research projects into the use of the Australian kelp and seaweed. “Qingdao is the second largest processor of seaweed in China and its products are up to pharmaceutical grade,” Mr Gandolfi said. “The company is looking to expand its business and process this little-used natural resource.” Founded in 1995 by Bevan and Susan Mills, AKP harvests seaweed from the beaches of the Limestone Coast. AKP has the only commercial seaweed licence in South Australia and produces liquid kelp fertilisers and dry seaweed products for livestock supplements. The Limestone Coast is considered unique due to its mix of cold nutrient rich Arctic waters meeting with the warm gulf streams of Gulf St Vincent, which resulted in more than 1140 distinctive species of seaweed. CLASSIFIED FORM $ Ph: Name: ............................................................................................................................................................. Address: ....................................................................................................................................................... Phone: ............................................................................................................................................................ CONDITIONS: 1. Only one item per advertisement. (Single items only). 2. Advertisement copy must be lodged on this original form. Photocopies and facsimiles will not be accepted. 3. Price of item must be stated in the advertisement. (Total value of item for sale must be $100 or less). 4. Private sales only (not businesses). 5. Maximum of 12 words. 6. The free classifi ed form is valid for one insertion only. 7. Advertisements may be excluded at the discretion of the manager. 8. Forms to be lodged at The Border Watch for inclusion in the next available Tuesday issue. 9. Deadline is 10.00am Monday prior to publication. 10. Excludes pets, livestock, produce and plants. Drop forms into: The Border Watch 81 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier Phone (08) 8724 1555 This classifi ed form is only valid for insertion into The Border Watch on Tuesday 29/10/13 618159 The Border Watch, Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 7 Free
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