Thinking of ICT? Just ACT!

If you are looking to boost your business in Australia, one of the largest ICT markets in the Pacific Basin, the best place to invest is Canberra, Australia's capital city.
Canberra is home to the Australian Government, the largest user of ICT services in Australia. It also has a strong and vibrant economy, the most highly educated and innovative workforce in Australia and provides a convenient base from which to network and reach other major Australian cities such as Melbourne and Sydney.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in which Canberra is located also has its own Territorial government which is focussed on providing the economic environment in which business can grow.
“The Australian Government spends around $3.5 billion each year on ICT hardware and services, and is the largest single purchaser of these services in Australia,” ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said. “This means if you want a share of the largest ICT market in Australia, you need to have your headquarters in Canberra, the home of the Australian Government and the place where the decisions are made.”
Canberra's highly skilled workforce also makes Canberra the perfect place to establish your Australian headquarters.
In recent years Canberra has experienced the fastest ICT employment growth in Australia at around 8.2 per cent per year, which equals around 25 ICT employees per 1,000 head of population.
Many firms have already decided to take advantage of the competitive edge Canberra offers.
Indian ICT giant HCL Technologies recently established an office in Canberra, and joins others such as Sun Micro Systems, Raytheon and ActivIdentity among the more than 1,000 ICT firms now operating in Canberra.
But don't be put off. There's room for plenty more ICT firms in Canberra! The size and growth of the Government ICT market, the tendency of Australian governments to outsource, and the need to understand the market intimately make Canberra the most attractive city for ICT suppliers to set up operations.
Canberra also offers opportunities to collaborate and network with the many ICT organisations already here and to locate your office near Australia's top research facilities.
For example, NICTA, the National ICT Centre of Excellence is a A$400-million national research organisation with its largest laboratory and research program based in Canberra.
Canberra is also home to world-class educational and research facilities including the Australian National University and the CSIRO.
Finally, the ACT Government is determined to strengthen links between Canberra and growing world economies.
In February this year Chief Minister Jon Stanhope led a successful trade mission to India and in October this year will host India in Focus, a special two-day event aimed at maximising business opportunities between Canberra and India.
“We are also developing and strengthening our ties with other strong and emerging markets such as China and the United States, to create more opportunities for businesses with a presence in the ACT,” Mr Stanhope said.
“Canberra is the place to be for ICT businesses looking to get their share of the massive Australian market. I urge any company, large or small which is interested in establishing an office in Canberra to contact the ACT Government on +612 6207 2569 for more information,” the Chief Minister said.