South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) says it can attest that the region is Australia’s largest manufacturing workforce by size, employment and economic output. A Deloittes Report commissioned by GSEM (Greater South East Melbourne) outperforms its nearest rival Western Sydney on a per capita basis by nearly 60 per cent. The region has 3,801 manufacturing businesses employing 75,046 people, with a gross output of $89 billion. “This report is proof of manufacturing’s importance to our State and National economy – Victoria and the South-East of Melbourne is the manufacturing powerhouse of Australia,” SEMMA chief executive Honi Walker said. SEMMA stated the proposed Dandenong South Intermodal Freight Terminal, the Port of Hastings and the proposed South East Airport were other essential infrastructure for the region’s long-term growth.