Bundaberg is on the map for Chinese business investors after RE/MAX principal, Scott Mackey, led a delegation to Nanning in China this month to support opportunities in the region.
Jim Mullet, Managing Director of Monduran Station, a 1000-hectare citrus orchard, along with real estate sales executives Aaron Thompson and Michael Zunker from RE/MAX Precision, and MRH Lawyers’ Alex Pretorious, who specialises in matters of visas and foreign ownership, joined Mr Mackey to present to more than 50 selected business entrepreneurs in Nanning.
“I led a delegation to Nanning, which was supported by both Nanning and Bundaberg councils, to present property and promote the resources and lifestyle of Bundaberg, and to bring partnering of business and further export of our produce,” the RE/MAX Precision principal said.
The Bundaberg delegation also met with Foreign Affairs and other Nanning government officials, as well as leading business and entrepreneurs, on several separate occasions.
“The trip was a resounding success,” Mr Mackey said. “We have since been liaising with the Bundaberg Council Economic Development team who has received communication from the Nanning Government.
“The interest we have generated for business between our two cities is about to take another step forward with 24 Nanning business leaders and investors visiting here from the 26th to the 28thof June in a delegation led by six Chinese Government officials.
“This will help also promote tourism in the Bundaberg region as Nanning has a population of 7.5 million people and is similar to that of Sydney. With development still going strong and wealth rising in their city, we are hoping to foster holidaying in their sister city of Bundaberg.
“We received great interest when we played the Bundaberg City Council advertising video, Live, Work, Play, Invest, to show off all we have to offer, and this video presentation has helped create the excitement for the 30-strong visit in June.”
It was Mr Mackey’s second visit to Nanning in five weeks.
In May, he visited the city in Guangxi, China, where he dined with the city’s Deputy Mayor Liu Weimin and other significant Nanning entrepreneurs, and strengthened good relations with clients who had already invested in Bundaberg’s agriculture and property development sectors.
“Deputy Mayor Liu, and all of the officials and people we met in the course of both trips made us feel more than welcome, and many we now call friends. We look forward to extending the same welcome when we host them in June.”
Mr Mackey said interest was already forthcoming from a traditional Chinese restaurant, a Chinese grocery store and a boat maintenance business along with the main farms we were presenting for partnering.
“The port development and agricultural trade is stimulating the greatest interest overall.
“Australian-grown food is highly regarded and in demand, and we will be creating further introductions to leading food production businesses in our area for supply.
“We are presently working with the June visitors to our region but we have also have been invited back to showcase more of Bundaberg businesses at the end of the year,” said Mr Mackey.
