4 September 2015

Investment focus for Mayoral delegation to China

Promoting New Zealand and opening the door for New Zealand and Wellington-based businesses will be on the agenda for Mayor Celia Wade-Brown when she attends the inaugural New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum in the Capital sister city of Xiamen next week.

For the first time 12 Mayors from across New Zealand have joined together as the single largest local authority delegation to visit China where they will promote awareness of tourism, education and primary industry opportunities.

“We are taking sister city relationships to another level and building on friendships established over many years to promote our cities, New Zealand, and what we have to offer,” Mayor Wade-Brown says..

“Xiamen is our long standing sister city and we have been steadily building our relationship over the past 28 years,” she says.

Mayor Wade-Brown will focus on promoting Wellington as a great choice for international students wishing to study in New Zealand.

“We have educational organisations that are among the best in the world and a city that is compact, safe and lively with plenty of outdoor and cultural experiences for Chinese students wishing to come here,” she says.

Cr Jo Coughlan, Chair of the Economic Growth and Arts Committee, will lead a Wellington business delegation which also includes representatives of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency.

Cr Coughlan says the visit provides a wide range of opportunities to promote investment opportunities in Wellington and create long term business relationships.

“We will be discussing opportunities including significant infrastructure projects for Wellington which include a covered concert arena, a convention centre, and the proposed extension to the Wellington International Airport runway,” she says.

The Wellington group will visit a New Zealand food section at Seashine Supermarket in Xiamen which includes honey wine from the Bemrose Estate in the Wellington region and travel to Xi’an where the Mayor will meet with Mojo Director Steve Gianoutsos and open a new Mojo coffee outlet.

Mayor Wade-Brown and the delegation will also meet the Mayor of Beijing and advance the Wellington Chinese garden project.

ENDS

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