CHINA is hungry for Australia’s produce and Tamworth is making sure the pantry door is open.
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A delegation of Tamworth Regional Council representatives and business chamber president, Jye Segboer, have returned from a 12-day business trip to China where farming, tourism and solar power were hot topics.
Mayor Col Murray has made a number of visits to China in recent years in a bid to get Tamworth’s foot in the door, when it comes to investment.
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“The overriding point of interest is China sees Australia as a premium food supplier into the future,” Cr Murray told The Leader.
The mayor said there was a strong interest in “further live cattle exports”, particularly from Australia and the region would be well-placed with its “premium” produce and major local freight projects in the works.
“As a farmer in a previous life, you could get frustrated at regulations and protections in terms of biosecurity, but that is going to pay dividends into the future when we’re competing with countries like Argentina, Brazil, the US with our clean and green image,” he said.
With plans to get the airport capable for taking international freight and a long-awaited announcement on council’s intermodal freight hub proposal waiting in the wings, the region could be well-placed to tap into the Chinese market.
Education in agriculture was another key topic of discussion, with talks on tapping into the “high level of expertise in genetics, plant breeding and parasite controls”.
Interest is also growing in tourism to parts of regional Australia, the mayor said.
And it’s not just country music, Cr Murray said there’s also appeal in “agri-tourism” and areas with native animals.
Another hot topic from the business trip was solar power, with a big potential makeover for the airport already in the works.
“We met with a very large private company who develop solar and see Australia as a market, and Tamworth in particular,” Cr Murray said.
The mayor said the company was looking at putting a roof over the Tamworth airport carpark which could capture solar energy.
“They’ve sent a draft [memorandum of understanding], but it’s not at a point where we’re ready to sign, but it’s pretty encouraging,” Cr Murray said.
A detailed report of the business trip will be submitted to council in coming weeks.