The WA Government’s Western Defence Forge (WDF) initiative has attracted submissions from companies seeking to participate in what is expected to become a nationally significant industrial and defence project. The EOI process received responses from businesses across nine nations, including 28 international companies, 13 international defence primes, 20 Australian companies and 118 Western Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Premier Roger Cook said the response demonstrated the opportunity available to Western Australia as the state sought to expand its manufacturing capability. “The strong response to the Western Defence Forge demonstrates the scale of opportunity available to Western Australia as we look to deliver on our plan to make more things in WA,” he said. Minister Assisting the Defence Industries Minister Amber Jade Sanderson said Western Australia had the capability to grow its manufacturing base.