Trade opportunities in China to be explored

The Invercargill City Council and Invercargill City Holdings Ltd will send four representatives to join a South Port business delegation to explore trade opportunities in China, Invercargill City Council Chief Executive Officer Richard King said today.

Mr King said His Worship the Mayor Tim Shadbolt had agreed to fund the costs of Cr Carolyn Dean out of the Mayor’s Promotional Fund. Council’s Director of Works and Services Cameron McIntosh would be funded out of existing operating budgets.

Invercargill City Council Holdings Ltd will be represented by Cr Graham Sycamore and Holdco CEO Dean Johnston.  The Holdco group is looking to expand its markets for log sales in China.

It is estimated that the cost per person will be around $6,000.

Mr King said that Councillors were briefed at the Finance and Policy Meeting last night about the intent and purpose of the business trip.

“The trip follows the Free Trade Agreement between China and New Zealand and Prime Minister John Key’s launch of the NZ Inc China Strategy, which aims to promote trade between the two countries.

“Mr Richard Hay from the Chamber of Commerce Southland also recently approached Council about cementing a political relationship between cities in China, as this is seen as very important to opening up trade on a city to city, or province to province basis.  The area of interest is the Yangtze River Delta, which is one of the wealthiest areas in China.”

Mr King said the delegation would be away for a week from 8 June.