Australia's  Premier, Lara Giddings,  today officially opened Skretting Australia’s $36 million aquafeed plant expansion in Cambridge.  Ms Giddings said the investment signalled strong prospects for the expanding AU$400 million Tasmanian salmon industry.
 
“This expansion will allow Skretting Australia to meet future market demand in the one of the fastest growing sectors of food production,” Ms Giddings said.
 
“By doubling production from its Tasmanian plant to more than 140,000 tonnes, Skretting is well placed to capitalise on growing aquaculture markets in both Australia and New Zealand
 
“Skretting directly employs around 60 people in Tasmania and is part of Nutreco, an international company in the animal nutrition and fish feed markets, with companies based in five continents.
 
“This is another example of a global company that is choosing to invest in Tasmania and it is encouraging evidence of the growing confidence in our economy.
 
“This week we have seen new State Final Demand figures that show there has been more than $4 billion worth of capital investment in the Tasmanian economy over the past four quarters.
 
“It is private investment like this that is helping to drive economic growth as the effects of Federal and State stimulus start to wear off.”
 
Ms Giddings said the salmon industry is identified as a priority sector in the Government’s recently released Economic Development Plan, with the industry contributing about $152 million towards Gross State Product and employing about 1100 people.
 
“Salmon is one of Tasmania’s largest interstate food export trade items with the high-quality of Tasmania’s product contributing to the establishment of a strong domestic market,” Ms Giddings said.