Western Sydney plan set to benefit migrant businesses

Harnessing the potential of the multicultural population is part of a new blueprint for western Sydney that looks at how to best leverage recent free trade agreements and ensure suitable employment for migrants living in Australia.

Aerial view of the Parramatta Central Business District in the western suburbs of Sydney. (AAP) Source: AAP

A new economic blueprint for Western Sydney was launched today and plans to provide a five-year plan for the creation of 200,000 jobs in Sydney's west by 2020. 

Local migrant-run businesses hope the blueprint, entitled Shaping Future Cities: Designing Western Sydney, will open up opportunities, in particular access to lucrative markets overseas.

David Fox, Chief Financial Officer for Pepe's Ducks based in western Sydney, said many local businesses were hoping for new opportunities from the blueprint.

"Our business has always been a multicultural business and I guess our main sales point is the Asian community - so we're well and truly entrenched in that part of society,” he told SBS News.

Mr Fox said the business, already Australia's largest duck producer, is also looking to begin exporting, and he hopes the blueprint for western Sydney will help.

"It'll give us greater access to other markets around the world," he said.

Western Sydney contributes significantly to Australia's economy, representing 10 per cent of Australia's population and eight per cent of the gross domestic product. 

Report author Theo Psychogios from Deloitte said he saw huge potential in the Middle Eastern community in Western Sydney.

"The Chinese and Indian communities without a doubt are a significant proportion of what happens here ... The Middle Eastern communities are probably a bit of a sleeper".

The Deloitte report also had recommendations on the multicultural population, including using its contacts to best leverage new opportunities and the establishment of a western Sydney trade desk.

There were also suggestions for support centres to help with transfer of qualifications, local careers, language skills and business start-up advice.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said engaging with the large multicultural population of Western Sydney would be integral to the blueprint’s success.

"It's the heart of multiculturalism in western Sydney, so we are doing everything possible across multicultural NSW to promote multiculturalism and promote unity,” he said.