Global giant General Electric has opened its new technology and learning centre in Perth, which is designed to support the growing oil and gas industry in the region.

 

Prime Minister Julia Gillard officially opened the new centre in Jandakot, and is the largest complex of its kind in the country.

 

Dan Heintzelman, president and CEO of GE Oil & Gas, said Perth was now the regional hub for the global company, supplying best-in-class technology and industry expertise to build and equip mega-resource projects in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

 

“In collaboration with the Australian government and private sector, we are making a significant investment in skills and development training to help address the Australian skills shortage,” Mr Heintzelman said.

 

The centre will provide accredited training to more than 300 people a year, across a range of sectors in which GE works, including oil and gas, healthcare, power generation, mining and transportation.