International firms invited to join in the boom

Treasurer Eric Ripper is leading a delegation to Europe aimed at encouraging global construction companies to take part in Western Australia's booming economy.

Mr Ripper and State Infrastructure Strategy Chair Dr Brian Hewitt will visit construction company headquarters in Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. They leave for Europe today.

The Treasurer said the road show was aimed at helping remedy capacity constraints being experienced by both the public and private sectors in WA.

"We are keen to encourage overseas construction companies to partner local firms in helping to address capacity constraints that have resulted in project delays and cost overruns," he said.

The road show also includes representatives from the Department of Treasury and Finance and the Department of Industry and Resources.

Its primary objectives are to:

• enhance WA's capacity to deliver on the State's increasing infrastructure needs;
• improve the international market's understanding of WA and its infrastructure markets, in order to encourage international participation;
• facilitate greater links between local and international companies that may lead to more innovative infrastructure solutions through the transfer of technology and skills; and
• increase the global profile of WA's outstanding economic performance and broad range of investment opportunities that exist within the State.

The delegation will also seek to learn from the experience of other countries that are experiencing excess demand or supply constraints in their construction markets, and how they are addressing this problem.

In particular, it is anticipated that the delegation will examine:

• the effectiveness of public sector partnership arrangements with the private sector in countries such as the United Kingdom;
• key elements of the infrastructure policy and planning frameworks of the countries being visited (which will be highly relevant to the State's development of the State Infrastructure Strategy); and
• 'Best practice' regulation of infrastructure.

"The groundwork done and insights gained will have the potential to result in more efficient and effective provision of infrastructure in WA, for the benefit of the entire community," Mr Ripper said.