City signs Economic Development Alliance

The City of Rockingham has entered into a formal agreement with the French city of Cherbourg that has the potential to create significant economic and employment opportunities for the Rockingham region.

The agreement, signed by Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels in France on Thursday, paves the way for French investment and employment driven by the eventual basing of the Australian Defence Force’s new submarine fleet at HMAS Stirling.

Cr Sammels, City of Rockingham CEO Andrew Hammond and Manager Investment Attraction Mark Tidman are representing Rockingham in France, exploring opportunities to capitalise on the Australian government’s submarine building contract with giant French ship builders Naval Group.

Rockingham is the first Australian city to enter into an economic development alliance with the Communaute D’ Agglommoration Du Cotentin, the regional economic development arm of the City of Cherbourg, the home of Naval Group.

The agreement, signed by Cr Sammels and the Mayor of Cherbourg, Benoit Arrive and Alliance President Jean Louis Valentin, builds on the recently instigated Rockingham Renaissance Technopole to research and develop projects on defence and other French-Australian economic activities.

Cr Sammels said French investment in Rockingham likely to flow through from this alliance would create significant job opportunities and would stimulate the local economy.

“Whilst we have worked hard to create an economic link with the French connections to the new submarine contracts and have been encouraged by the early response from the French, we were even more delighted by the positive and very enthusiastic reception we have had in France,” Cr Sammels said.

“The City of Cherbourg and the French-based industry representatives associated with the city have embraced the concept of partnering with us for what is potentially a major economic benefit for Rockingham, and of course, for the French.

“The alliance will be developed further when a high level French delegation visits Rockingham next June to be further briefed on the Technopole project and to familiarise themselves with the investment potential available to them in Rockingham.

“While the submarines based at HMAS Stirling is the catalyst for an economic alliance, there are other opportunities to be explored during the French delegates visit to Rockingham.”