Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford today joined Victorian regional city council and business leaders for the first ever Victoria-Jiangsu Regional Cities Alliance dialogue in Nanjing.
The dialogue represented a further deepening of engagement between Victoria and Jiangsu, which have enjoyed a Sister State relationship since 1979.
Today’s conversation gave Victorian and Jiangsu leaders the chance to gain a better understanding of the investment and trade opportunities in their respective regional cities.
Victorian regional cities represented at the event included Ballarat, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and representatives from the Committee for Geelong and Committee for Gippsland.
Victorian regional city leaders used the dialogue to highlight the high quality food and agricultural products, unique tourism experiences and world class universities and vocational education and training providers in their respective cities.
Speaking at the Victoria-Jiangsu Regional Cities Alliance dialogue, Ms Pulford also announced that the Andrews Labor Government would provide new funding for the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Victorian Jiangsu Business Placement Program.
The program enables Victorian business operators to be hosted by a Jiangsu company in their relevant sector, where they gain insights and real world experience working in China.
Participants are also provided with intensive education and coaching on China’s business environment, economic outlook and legal and financial matters, as well as consumer behaviours and cultural etiquette and trends.
The Victorian Government established the Regional Cities Alliance to facilitate the strengthening of ties between Victoria’s regional cities and their counterparts in Jiangsu. Ballarat, Geelong, Latrobe City Council and Wangaratta already have formal Sister City relationships with regional cities in Jiangsu.
China is Victoria’s number one trading partner, with goods exports reaching $6.5 billion in 2014-15, as well as the state’s largest source market for international tourists and international students.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“Building strong relationships with our major trading partner is a key pillar of economic development policy – whether it’s at the national, state, or the local level.”
“Regional Victorian cities have the best of everything – high quality food and agricultural products, unique tourism experiences and world class university and vocational education.”
“Today’s event will provide a solid basis for establishing strong, enduring relationships between Victorian and Jiangsu regional cities.”
Reviewed 26 June 2020