CHINA could be ready to cash in on the New England.
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But it’s become an ongoing mission for Tamworth Regional Council and mayor Col Murray, with regular visits to China in a bid to keep the region at the front of the line when it comes to foreign investment.
Cr Murray, along with TRC business director John Sommerlad and economic development graduate Alex Wang, is seeking council permission for a $20,000 “business investment visit to China” in early August.
The mayor said this would be his fifth official trip to China, including sister city visits, but it could pay off big-time for the whole region.
“Not all will understand the value of it and there’s sections of the community who will criticise each and every time we do something like this,” Cr Murray conceded.
“Talk to any of the agricultural producers or business people, they know the value.
“[It’s an] opportunity for more investment and more jobs.”
The top business theme of the proposed nine-day trip is agriculture.
And the mayor believes it all hinges on council’s momentous push for the airport to go international for freight movements.
“There’s two investors who’d like to see a dual-chain abattoir and another that wants a milk processing factory,” Cr Murray said.
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The TRC delegation will also discuss opportunities around a warehousing facility, international freight and agricultural education.
While it could be some time before the dream is realised, the sky-high ambition is turning heads around the globe, Cr Murray said, with prospective interest from US investors.
Closer to home, the state government has given strong, but non-financial, support for council’s grand plan.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro pledged to help TRC “navigate” its very complex plan for international freight and offered to personally “work with council to get that off the ground”.
TRC is serious about securing Chinese, and other foreign business, investment and has bolstered its economic development unit to help look abroad.
Mr Wang “has a broad knowledge of the Asian market”, as well as speaking Mandarin and Cantonese, and will also travel to China as council’s official interpreter.
As part of the proposed trip, each member of the delegation will get a daily meal allowance of more than $120 per day, while accommodation will cost a grand total of $5940.
The proposed trip will be voted on at Tuesday night’s ordinary meeting.
Summary of expenses
- Transportation: $8656.44
- Accommodation: $5940
- Meals: $3330.90
- Miscellaneous: $1500
- TOTAL: $19,427.34