A major initiative has been launched to encourage Perth-based businesses to look at relocating to the South-West.
Under the South West Development Commission's 'Invest South West' initiative, South-West Minister Norm Marlborough has engaged researchers to identify industries in Perth which need to grow and are likely to consider relocating to the region.
"The boom in the South-West has created strong incentives to encourage more businesses to share in the region's prosperity now and into the future," Mr Marlborough said.
The Minister added that the Government had identified a need to address the constraints of operating in the metropolitan area.
"Work has already started to attract those businesses restricted by limited space," he said.
Mr Marlborough said the move had the potential to generate millions of dollars' worth of investment and hundreds of jobs.
"The South-West is riding high on the back of the State's booming economy, with the Bluewaters Power Station, Peel Deviation, Bunbury Silos redevelopment and an unprecedented property boom," he said.
The project will deliver a comprehensive report to be presented to the SWDC later this year, detailing the findings of the research which will be used to develop a marketing strategy to promote the South-West as an alternative business location.
Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries chief executive Allan Birrell welcomed the initiative and said the research would act as a catalyst for further growth in the region.
"It will identify the issues that make a relocation to the South-West an attractive alternative for metropolitan-based business," Mr Birrell said.
