Region to Access Hong Kong

TSBE plans delegation to Asian economic powerhouse

TOOWOOMBA and Surat Basin Enterprise will this year explore export opportunities in the Asian powerhouse of Hong Kong, it has been revealed.

In the second of its planned international trade delegations, the lobby group and Food Leaders Australia will take up to 250 producers, businesses, developers and investors from Wellcamp airport to Hong Kong from September 3-7.

Tourism and the region’s trade relationships in the food processing and agricultural sectors will be a focal point of the second international passenger flight from Wellcamp.

FLA CEO Dr Ben Lyons said the mission would build on the region’s existing export relationships 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 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 commissioned by TSBE found $350 million extra revenue would flow to the businesses that joined last year’s AccessChina mission to Shanghai.

Delegates will fly out on a Qantas B747-400 aircraft to the city with a population of more than seven million and an economy heavily reliant on imports for its food and beverages.

TSBE executive chairman Shane Charles said the group was proud to continue its relationship with Qantas, and the delegation would help “link business with opportunity”.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio, who took part in the Shanghai delegation, said the city’s links with China could “not have begun” without the 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,” he said.