FINCANTIERI WELCOMES ITALIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO AUSTRALIA
27 November 2017, Adelaide – Fincantieri Australia today welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, the Hon. Angelino Alfano, to Australia for a two-day visit to Canberra and Adelaide.
Minister Alfano will be meeting with senior Ministers and Shadow Ministers as well as key members of the business community. He will officiate the official opening of the Fincantieri office in Adelaide.
Fincantieri was represented by Giampiero Massolo, Chairman, Alberto Maestrini, General Manager, and Dario Deste, Chairman of Fincantieri Australia.
Fincantieri is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups with 20 shipyards worldwide and is participating in the Australian Government’s SEA 5000 Future Frigates bid process to be decided next year.
Fincantieri has already established operations in Canberra and Adelaide and last week announced a request for proposal to assign a contract to local companies to build cruise ship blocks in South Australia.
During his visit Minister Alfano will also announce the winning project for the Fincantieri-Flinders-CETENA Maritime Innovation Challenge – an initiative designed to foster international research collaboration and showcase leading defence research on the world’s stage.
“I am very pleased to be here to mark such an important milestone in Fincantieri’s presence in Australia. Fincantieri’s enjoys a first-class reputation as a global shipbuilder. Fincanieri FREMM frigate, currently in service in the Italian Navy, is regarded by the defence community as one of the most technologically-advanced and effective vessels in the world,” said Minister Alfano.
“Since the end of the Second World War, the Italian migrant community has made a significant economic, social and cultural contribution to the growth and development of this nation. Australia and Italy have an established and cooperative relationship, and a shared commitment to strengthening our economies through trade and investment. I am confident that our industrial, naval and technological partnership with Australia can be further enhanced including through cooperation with Fincantieri,” he concluded.
Fincantieri Chairman of the Board of Directors, Giampiero Massolo, is also in Australia to attend Fincantieri Australia’s office blessing. Mr Massolo said, “Fincantieri is committed to bringing the most advanced, proven and tested design, technology and build experience to Australia, and we are confident that the company has a good opportunity to succeed in this competitive process.”
“We welcome the opportunity to build for the Royal Australian Navy and support the re-development of Australia’s naval shipbuilding industry,” Mr Massolo added.
Dario Deste, Chairman of Fincantieri Australia, said, “We are honoured to welcome the Minister to Australia, at a time when we continue to deepen our involvement in South Australia’s shipbuilding industry. The Minister’s visit reflects the Italian Government’s support for our bid for SEA 5000 and our desire to expand our global operations to participate in shipbuilding projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Fincantieri is committed to expanding the local shipbuilding industry’s capability and improving economic outcomes, by transferring our organisation’s skills, technology and know-how to Australian businesses.”
“Starting from day one of the SEA 5000 project, should we be selected, we are committed to training the local workforce of engineers and technicians, directly and throughout the entire supply-chain,” he said.
Together with its bid for SEA 5000 Future Frigates, Fincantieri Australia has announced a range of initiatives to deepen its industry engagement. The company has issued a Request for Proposals to South Australian businesses – ASC Shipbuilding, Adelaide Ship Construction International, MG Engineering and Ottaway Engineering (Whyalla) – to build three cruise ship blocks in Adelaide from the second half of 2018. It has hosted a number of workshops for
prospective SEA 5000 suppliers and partners. Upon reaching the appropriate business content Fincantieri will list the business on the Australian Stock Exchange.
