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Victoria's lucrative $16 billion
Transport, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) sector is
about to get a whole lot bigger following a Victorian
Government initiative that will redefine the economic
growth and development of the industry and increase the
speed and efficiency of goods transported, delivered and
tracked by a staggering 29% - and Australia's leading
ICT technology solutions giant NEC, is helping the
Victorian Government achieve its goal.
A world-class training and commercial facility for new
transport, distribution and logistics technologies ?#8364;“ the
National Intelligent Transport Systems Centre (NIC), was
first flagged by the State Government two years ago in
its 2004 Economic Statement.
The NIC, a high tech futuristic state-of-the-art
technology hub has been designed to position ITS as a
core element of the State Government's strategy to
enhance Victoria's export capacity and further develop
and grow the multi-billion dollar sector.
Launched today by the Treasurer, Minister for
Innovation, Minister for State and Regional Development,
John Brumby, the Centre heralds a new focal point for
technological innovation to improve the safety and
efficiency of transport and freight distribution systems
while enabling Victoria's domestic industry to compete
in the lucrative global market of transport technology.
NEC will underpin the Centre's multi -million dollar
technology fit out with a broad range of leading edge
technology solutions that will deliver services to
various industries.
The ICT solutions giant will not only provide the
Centre with technologies that create and deliver the
right environment for Victoria's domestic transport
industry to compete globally but grow a further 35% by
2010 ?#8364;“ more than doubling the number of Victorian
exports to $40b.
The Centre will also serve as a multi-faceted
technology hub delivering a series of applications for
its technologies with high-level strategic
anti-terrorism security initiatives being one of the key
focuses.
NEC has invested millions of dollars in the research
and development of its anti-terrorism technologies which
it is deploying at NIC and has already deployed around
the world both in public and key strategic foreign
government infrastructure locations.
NEC's technology will allow both State and Federal
Government(s) and Government Agencies across Australia
to ramp up security initiatives in an attempt to guard
against potential terrorist threats - making Victoria
and Australia an even safer place.
Victoria and the ITS Centre will be the first to house
and use this ground breaking technology ?#8364;“ helping to
prevent any London, Bali or Spanish style attack that
may arise. The Centre will also provide technology for:
" triple play services
" media streaming
" media research and development
" and Radio Frequency Identification tagging (RFID).
RFID will be a key component of the Centre's move to
redefine the TDL sector.
The Centre is not only geared to become Australia's
most powerful technology hub, but it will promote
Victoria as a freight logistics centre and Melbourne as
Australia's Gateway of choice for the TDL industry.
NEC Business Solutions managing director, Riaki
Tanaka, said the technologies NEC is providing will not
only deliver the mechanisms for the TDL sector to become
a highly competitive global player but allow the
technologies to be applied for other purposes,
especially those strategically critical to the overall
security of the nation, business and the broader
community.
"The technology we have developed and have proven to
be a key mechanism in the battle against terrorism and
to pre-empt any potential strike or threat makes these
solutions and initiatives a powerful tool to have. The
world has changed over the past five years and what we
took for granted once can't be taken for granted
anymore. Our technology will give authorities the
upper-hand in the fight against terrorism."
Mr. Tanaka said as a new generation of technology
approaches, Australia must position itself at the
forefront in this value-added information economy
sector.
"The initiative of the NIC," Mr. Tanaka said, "Clearly
demonstrates the Government's commitment to the industry
and Victoria. It will invigorate innovation,
commercialisation and importantly education in the
transport sector. Furthermore it will give smaller
companies access to this world leading technology and
open the doors to greater export opportunities"
According to Mr. Tanaka, NEC and the Government keenly
believe the NIC will deliver Victoria and the TDL sector
such resounding economic success it will pave the way
for other sectors to replicate similar hubs.
Brent Stafford executive director of Intelligent
Transport Systems Australia said the initiative is a
quantum leap forward for the transport sector. "With the
support of the Victorian Government and NEC's leading
edge technologies, we will now be able to rapidly
develop a new generation of critical safety, security
and efficiency technologies, reducing congestion,
improving travel times and enhancing public transport
safety."
He said the Victorian Government and NEC must be
congratulated on their commitment to this vision for the
future.
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