Trade partnerships underpin historic AccessChina'16 delegation
THE AccessChina’16 trade delegation is the success story of Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, flying producers, industry and businesses to Shanghai tapping into the China export market.
The Qantas A330 flight will take off at 10.30am on Sunday, marking the historic moment the first international passenger flight departs the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport.
TSBE AccessChina’16 project leader Dr Ben Lyons shares the key elements that have made the historic moment possible.
“The flight out of Wellcamp is a major milestone for the region. A regional chartered flight internationally has never been attempted before,” Dr Lyons said.
The delegation will land in Shanghai at 6.30pm Sunday (Shanghai time), with guests then transferred to the Hyatt on the Bund which overlooks the famed Bund and financial district.
The Hyatt on the Bund will host the first full-day conference which includes 45 speakers across four sessions designed to inform and explain the Chinese business opportunity.
Dr Lyons will be joined by Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment MP Keith Pitt, Minister for State Development, Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham, Austcham Shanghai chairman and Elders China CEO Craig Aldous, Zhongfu Group chairman Wu Puingai during the first session of the conference.
Afternoon break-out sessions expand on the Ag in Asia, Education and Tourism, and Energy and Resources sectors in what Dr Lyons described as an opportunity for delegates to learn how different industries are run.
A gala dinner at the iconic Fairmont Peace Hotel on Monday night will give further opportunities for networking and immersion in Shanghai’s unique mix of oriental charm and new-age cosmopolitan.
Qantas Freight, a business looking to expand its capacity in Asia, will host the dinner.
“The gala dinner is a fantastic opportunity for Qantas Freight and our producers, as it looks to educate the Shanghai business community on our regional capability when combined with an international freight provider,” he said.
“By attending the gala diner, local producers can see the possibilities of their produce into the Asian market and Qantas Freight can take the opportunity to connect directly with producers in our region and in Queensland, to see the demand side reality that is China.”
Delegates will be accompanied to a range of sites on days two and three including Alibaba Group Holding Limited’s Hangzhou Campus, Yangshan Deepwater Port, G-Shop, Pactyl, Baosteel, Dulwich College Shanghai and Shanghai Electric.
NAB Agribusiness will sponsor the Big Aussie Barbecue at Sasha’s Shanghai, a premier destination set in a mansion in the French Concession, on Wednesday night.
AccessChina’16 has been made possible thanks to the support of major sponsor Zhongfu Group, and partners ANZ, Asialink Business, EFIC, HopgoodGanim Lawyers and University of Southern Queensland.
“This delegation is the first of its kind for the region and the largest private trade delegation in Australia’s history,” he said.
“To give businesses the opportunities we have in the Asian market could not have happened without the coordinated efforts of our partners and sponsors,” Dr Lyons said.
“We have brought together businesses from banks to exporters and freight companies.
“Efic are a government agency of note that do a great job in the all-important international financing for international trade, particularly for new transactions.
“They fill an important gap where banks often can’t provide and are instrumental to AccessChina’16.
“Zhongfu founder Wu Puingai is a good friend of Australia, a Shanghai real-estate developer and a spokesman for agriculture investment as well as a key player in the signing of the China-Australia FTA.
“Zhongfu are developing a targeted retail offering in the more affluent developments in Shanghai.
“HopgoodGanim Lawyers is one of the more prominent law firms practicing in the investment space, with a particular track record in China.
“We’re welcoming them to be a part of a panel to provide insight into investment transactions.”
“AsiaLink have an important role in the engagement piece with Asia, particularly for small-medium size enterprises not just for China, but all of Asia.
“ANZ agribusiness services clients with industry specialisation in production, processing, storage and handling or marketing and trading with value-adding solutions.
“They have an extensive Asia network that can facilitate trade and communication.
“TSBE foundation members University of Southern Queensland has been a long-standing partner with us and helped devise the Food Leaders Australia brand.
“USQ has a growing cohort of Chinese international students and have consistently shown themselves to be innovative.”
As well as bringing a contingency of businesses on the delegation, AccessChina’16 welcomes a number of government ministers and mayors, a show of support of the importance of the trade trip.
Government involved with AccessChina'16 or speaking at the conference
• Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment MP Keith Pitt
• Minister for State Development, Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham
• Callide MP and Chairman of Parliamentary Policy Committee Jeff Seeney
• Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio
• Maranoa Regional Council Mayor Tyson Golder
• Edward River Council Economic and Business Development Manager John Harvie
• Murweh Shire Council Mayor Anne Liston
• Paroo Shire Council Mayor Lindsay Godfrey
Photo credit: Yangshan Development and Construction Administration Commission of Shengsi Country chief of staff Kang Zhen and TSBE Business Development Manager/FLA General Manager (Greater China) Liu Wen tour the Yangshan Port ahead of AccessChina’16.
For media enquiries contact TSBE media and communications officer Elouise Quinlivan on 4639 4600.
