TAMWORTH Regional Council has locked in another all expenses-paid trip-to China, and this time the business chamber wants to tag along.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Mayor Col Murray, business director John Sommerlad and TRC economic development unit staffer Alex Wang are headed for China to talk business investment, after council gave it the nod this week.
Cr Murray said at Tuesday’s council meeting the Tamworth Business Chamber president Jye Segboer had expressed interest in also joining the trip, at his own cost.
Mr Segboer told The Leader the matter would be voted on at the next Chamber board meeting.
In the neighbouring Gunnedah shire, the town’s chamber of commerce were part of the council-led delegation to China in March.
Chamber vice president Stacey Cooke said they “couldn’t keep up with the inquiries” following the trip.
“A lot of business has come out the trip with inquiries from China about cotton seeds and beef,” Mrs Cooke said.
She said it was important to give business-owners a chance to put forward their “own ideas and passions”.
Chamber president Mike Broekman said it could lead to larger, regional opportunities down the track.
“[It’s] opened our eyes to look at regional opportunities,” he said.
“If enquiries are too large, we could look at joining with like-minded business communities.”
Mr Broekman said networking within business chambers across towns already existed and could be used to pursue bigger opportunities down the track.
Tamworth councillor Russell Webb said he had copped community criticism regarding council’s Chinese trip, but said the region stood to benefit.
“I certainly defend this trip because we’ve established some good links with Asia and, in particular, China,” he said.
“If we have a look around our nation we see some of the smartest business people in this country, and I’ll name Gina Reinhardt as one of them, establishing some very good links with this great food consuming nation.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, Cr Murray said he hoped the visit would put runs on the board for the agricultural sector.
“We have seen some significant investment coming to the region from China as a result of our engagement,” he said.
Council’s Chinese excursions
What can be gained from Chinese trips
Cr Murray said the council trips to China are about getting the “right type of investment” for the region.
"I don't think that Chinese investors buying houses and properties is necessarily great for the local economy,” he said.
“We want investment in business that will create jobs and opportunities.”
And agriculture appears to be at the centre of the plans
“Investment in education in agriculture that will be delivered by places like the UNE and TAFE - the sale of intellectual properties, but we have to be clever,” he said.
"We can't transfer that knowledge for a training wage, we have to get better outcomes - TRC is looking for modest income streams from this."