ITWire

In an address at CeBIT in Sydney, for the launch of National ICT Careers Week in NSW, the state’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner said the digital economy was growing and would demand a vastly expanded workforce over the next 10 years which meant that global competition for top quality digital skills would only get more intense.

“Studying and pursuing a career in ICT is a great choice for people considering their future – the ICT industry in NSW is expanding rapidly and is an essential part of many industries around the world.”

The Minister said that NSW had long been at the forefront of research and development and investment in emerging technologies, and the State accounted for 39 per cent of ICT value-added output in Australia.

“Some well-known examples of technologies developed in Sydney include the Google Maps software, developed by Google’s Sydney office, and WiFi, developed at CSIRO Sydney.

Mr Stoner said the NSW Government was committed to growing NSW’s ICT industries, and was developing a digital economy Industry Action Plan to outline a vision and strategy for the digital economy over the next decade in NSW.  “It will set out actions for both industry and Government that will encourage industry growth, productivity and innovation, and export performance.”

The Minister said ICT Careers Week – which will take place from 23 to 29 July - had gone from strength to strength with more than 350 organisations participating in NSW.