Mayor leads Rockhampton delegation into Asia

Published on 23 November 2016

Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow will today lead a delegation of Regional business and education leaders into Asia on a six-day trade and relationship building mission. 

Mayor Strelow and the team departs on Wednesday and will spend the first two days with the Region’s close partners in Singapore before travelling to China, where a new Friendship City Agreement will be signed with civic leaders of Zhenjiang, a city of more than three million residents.

Singapore and Rockhampton have enjoyed a strong relationship for more than 25 years through the Asian nation’s military exercises in the region.  This will be Council’s largest trade mission into the Southeast Asian state and comes at a time when Singapore is looking to significantly expand activities in the region.

Meanwhile, the China leg will focus on the signing of key agreements as well as meeting potential investors looking for opportunities in the Rockhampton Region.

Key elements include;

  • Meeting defence, property and infrastructure development companies as well as key players in the food and logistic sectors and government representatives in Singapore; 
  • Joining the head of one of China’s top 500 companies, Mr Ding, of Yuexing Group for a special tour of one of his major shopping centres; 
  • The signing of three key agreements. A Friendship City Agreement between Rockhampton and Zhenjiang and two educational ones, including a Memorandum of Understanding between CQUniversity and Jiangsu University China; 
  • Participating in a conference for climate-smart cities;
  • Showcasing key opportunities for partnerships in the education, health and aged-care sectors, aviation, food trade and manufacturing industries while in China.

A key player in putting the busy itinerary together for the mission has been Rockhampton Regional Council’s recently-appointed trade and investment executive Young Beamish, who has opened many doors.

Mayor Strelow said it was crucial to develop communication lines with potential partners.

“At a time when so much focus is on Asia, and there are so many opportunities and so many other regions actively attracting investment and exports, it makes sense for us to take our story to the marketplace directly,” Mayor Strelow said.

The 10-person delegation includes Councillor Rose Swadling, Council’s CEO Evan Pardon, Ms Beamish, CQUniversity Vice Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman and the University’s International Marketing and Recruitment deputy director Robert McDonald, as well as local real estate agents Pat O’Driscoll and Neale Crow.

Zhenjiang will foot the bill for the delegation's Chinese travel arrangements, accommodation and dining.

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