Building on its historic first international passenger flight from Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport last year, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) and Food Leaders Australia (FLA) is set to take businesses, producers, developers and investors to Hong Kong.
Following last year’s successful model, the flight to the Asian financial powerhouse is intended to leave Wellcamp airport on a Qantas B747-400 on September 3-7, subject to government and regulatory approvals.
TSBE executive chairman Shane Charles said TSBE and FLA was proud to continue the relationship with the carrier.
“Qantas is a global brand with an Australian story, much like the businesses from our region are aspiring to be,” he said.
“TSBE works to link business with opportunity, a key driver of our Access delegations.”
With over seven million people, Hong Kong, known as Asia’s world city, is an international business, trade, tourism and financial centre.
Food Leaders Australia chief executive officer Ben Lyons said the trip was an extension of the connectivity the region already shared with Hong Kong.
“We have a weekly Tuesday night flight out of Wellcamp that can deliver 136 tonnes of fresh produce and products direct to Hong Kong,” Dr Lyons said.
“This has been a huge economic benefit to our region. Celebrating and growing that connectivity to Asia is one of this year’s drivers.”
“Hong Kong is a mix of cosmopolitan, high tech and diverse industries. It has an entrepreneurial spirit that drives the private sector.”
“This trip is the bridge to Asia, taking our agriculture and food, energy and resources, logistics and education cohorts direct to their future markets.”
An independent report by Strategenics showed delegates expect that over the next few years, the AccessChina trip last year would result in over $350 million of extra revenue for their companies.
Other survey results showed 96 per cent of delegates surveyed would recommend the trip to others and 88 per cent would attend another trip.
Following that success, TSBE’s AccessHongKong delegation will host up to 250 delegates for the five-day program that includes site tours, a full day conference and gala events.
Feedback from last year’s trip has helped shape the 2017 offering, with a continued and increased focus on business matching, conference speakers, and of course, networking time.
The delegation seeks to share the Darling Downs’ story of business innovation and production with the Asian market.
TSBE and FLA employee Liu Wen, who is a vital link in FLA’s Activate China plan, helping businesses build partnerships with China.
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio joined last year’s delegation, using the trip to expand the region’s links to Asia and signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Yuecheng city in Zhejiang province.
“The first of its kind, the agreement with Yuecheng, is a starting point for developing a broader relationship with the greater area of Shaoxing,” Mayor Antonio said.
“The agreement outlines that we will foster cooperation in a range of sectors to promote common prosperity and development. We have recently invited a delegation from Yuecheng to visit our region and expect to welcome the group here in the coming months. This journey would not have begun without the Access China trip.”
“As a region, we punch well above our weight in agricultural production and food processing, in education, in medical care, and as we look to increase our tourism market, it’s fitting that the next stop is Hong Kong.”
TSBE also signed a MOU with the Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce.
Limited early-bird tickets were first opened to the AccessChina’16 alumni and are now open for all delegates to join. Visit tsbe.com.au/accesshongkong to book.
