I am pleased to once again offer my support for the Geelong Business Excellence Awards, and to extend my warmest congratulations to all nominees.
If Australia is to rise to the challenge of achieving a strong, stable economy into the future, we need the kind of innovation and enterprise we are seeing in this dynamic and growing region.
I commend the efforts of the local business community, and hope that, through these awards, you are inspired to even higher levels of achievement.
I also wish to assure you of my Government’s strong support for your continued growth and prosperity.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments in January this year was an important first step towards establishing a Geelong City Deal – the very first City Deal for Victoria.
Over coming months, both governments will work together with local government partners to negotiate the deal.
It is my hope and expectation that, once concluded, it will harness the strengths of the local economy to help to deliver new jobs and make the area
an ever better place to live and work.
I was also pleased to recently announce that the Geelong and Corangamite region will be the first to benefit from my Government’s Regional Jobs and Investment Packages.
The 21 projects will receive a total of $20 million, supporting a range of employment and investment initiatives, including Australia’s first commercial carbon fibre manufacturing facility.
This is an exciting time for Geelong, and I have great confidence that the people of this remarkable region can look forward to many great opportunities ahead.
The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Prime Minister of Australia
