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Western Australia’s Premier Mark McGowan will travel to the US where he will pitch the state as a naval industry hub to US Navy officials.
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Premier McGowan is joining Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and and other state and territory leaders on a high-level delegation to the US later this month, hosted by the Australian embassy.
While in Washington, DC, McGowan will engage in a series of meetings to highlight WA's capacity as a supplier, manufacturer and repairer for the defence sector.
The Premier will meet with Richard Spencer, US Secretary of the Navy, to discuss Western Australia as a suitable location for additional future ship visits by the US Navy.
"WA has a long history of US Navy visits and we have a strong reputation for the quality of our ship repair, tourism and hospitality industries," the Premier said.
Premier McGowan will also discuss hosting more US Navy vessels in WA.
"During my meeting with the US Secretary of the Navy, I will draw on WA's historic relationship with the US and promote our state's capacity for additional ship visits," he said.
"Additional ship visits to WA will inject many millions of dollars into the WA economy and would help create more local jobs."
McGowan will be able to draw on one of Western Australia's most successful defence export stories, Austal.
With the Australian company firmly established in the US as a shipbuilder of US Navy vessels. The company is currently undertaking the build of the Independence variant of the littoral combat ship class.
