Ministerial Travel to China 11-16 Oct 2010
Purpose of travel
The Minister for Primary Industries, the Minister's Chief of Staff, and the Deputy Director General, Industry & Investment officially represented the NSW Government at the Shanghai World Exposition 2010. In addition they also led 17 NSW primary industries delegates who formed part of an international industry forum at the Australian Pavilion at the Shanghai World Exposition 2010.
NSW Government participation in the Shanghai World Expo 2010 sought to build on a solid trading relationship between NSW and China, which has grown by around 138% in the past five years. The NSW contingent through the NSW primary industries specific event fostered bilateral trade in the areas of agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, minerals sectors and associated interests in research and development.
Benefits of travel for the State of New South Wales
The Shanghai World Exposition 2010 program hosted by Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) “NSW Primary Industries – Feeding and Energising the World” on 12 October 2010 focused on the attractive attributes of NSW’s agribusiness, forestry, and minerals sector, and why NSW is a desirable place for inbound investment and doing business.
Specifics outcomes from the NSW trade mission events include:
- Identification of specific areas in Minerals, Health and Biotechnology, Agriculture, and Tourism that Fosun International Ltd is interested in investing in NSW.
- Strengthened the relationship between NSW agri-food businesses and Bright Food Group with Bright Food confirming its intention to invest in NSW’s agriculture industries, particularly dairy, sugar and wine industries.
- Confirmation from China Shenhua Energy Company that they have approx 120 billion RMB (AUD$18 billion) available and are eager to find mining opportunities, both greenfield and brownfield, to invest in, along with power generation opportunities.
- The Minister officiated and witnessed the signing of an MOU between University of NSW (UNSW) and China Coal Research Institute (CCRI) to introduce UNSW’s Mine Safety Simulation Training Technology to the China market. Besides loyalty fees to UNSW for its software in future sales, NSW will also benefit from hardware sales and joint research opportunities between the two parties in the future.
- Strengthened relationship between Beijing Food Authority (BFA) and NSW Government and primary industries. In particular, our industry representatives have gained better understanding of the role and function of BFA and its importance to the agri-food sector for import of NSW products.
- Wine Industry Export Development event held in Beijing provided an opportunity for NSW wine producers to showcase their products to Chinese Wine Media and key wine distributors.
Estimated costs and details of travel
Minister |
Steve Whan |
|---|---|
Portfolio |
Primary Industries |
Countries visited |
China |
Date of travel |
11 – 16th October 2010 |
Number of accompanying:
|
(a) 1 – Chief of Staff |
Accompanied by spouse in an official capacity |
N/A |
Air fares
|
(a) Minister $8446.06 |
Accommodation and meals
|
(a) Minister $ 2824.45 |
Official hospitality expenses
|
(a) n/a ** |
Other expenses (including some meals, refreshments, surface travel and travel allowances)
|
|
Total estimated travel costs
|
(a) $ 21,536.21 |
* Note: Airfares for Deputy Director-General, George Davey, were subsidised by the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences who invited Mr Davey to present a paper at the 2010 International Symposium on Quality and Safety of Agri-Products in Shanghai on 19 October 2010.
**Note: Official hospitality has been provided either by host organisations or covered through the department’s official functions.