Page 1 of 24
Report to Council Agenda item 6.4
Post travel report by Councillor Kevin Louey and Councillor Philip Le Liu 29 May 2018 – City of Melbourne mission to Osaka, Japan and Beijing, Tianjin, Wuxi and Suzhou China, March 2018
Presenter: David Livingstone, Manager International and Civic Services
Purpose and background
1. To report to Council on the travel undertaken by Councillor Kevin Louey as mission leader and Councillor Philip Le Liu to Osaka, Japan and Beijing, Tianjin, Wuxi and Suzhou, China leading the City of Melbourne business mission for the period from 21 to 30 March 2018. 2. On 12 December 2017, the Future Melbourne Committee approved Councillors travel to lead the mission to promote Melbourne’s key capabilities in health and life sciences, sustainable urban development, innovation, start ups and general aviation. Twenty two businesses and organisations were recruited to participate. The planning and delivery of the mission is a major initiative in year 1 of the Council Plan 2017-2021. 3. The comprehensive mission program included pre-departure workshops, tailor-made business match sessions, market opportunity briefings, site visits and networking events. The program built upon Council’s long standing city-to-city partnerships and identified business opportunities aligned with Melbourne sector capabilities that are globally recognised. 4. On-ground program was coordinated utilising Council’s strong partnerships with economic development agencies, key industry groups and bi-lateral Chambers of Commerce in each city, and offshore posts of Australian federal government and Victorian government. 5. The civic delegation held high level meetings with the Mayor Yoshimura, Mayor of Osaka; Vice Mayor of Tianjin, Mayor Mayor of Wuxi and Vice Mayor Xu Meijian, Vice Mayor of Suzhou. 6. The delegation was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer, Manager International and Civic Services, Team Leader – International and two Business Development Officers. Their roles were to assist and advise the Councillors and business delegates, facilitate introductions between Melbourne business executives and their international counterparts. The Melbourne Office Tianjin also provided in-country support in China. Key issues 7. Significant opportunities were identified based on Melbourne’s key capability sectors and market opportunities. Four memorandum of understanding were signed and a robust, customised business matching program was prosecuted for mission business delegates to meet their respective business objectives. 8. Councillors were influential in advancing of significant business projects in Asia and opened the doors to key decision makers. Their leadership was instrumental for Melbourne businesses to engage with the important markets of Japan and China. 9. As a result of the business mission, a number of significant leads are being pursued that are likely to convert to tangible commercial outcomes for City of Melbourne businesses, by further leveraging the city to city partnerships with the target cities. Work has also continued with individual business delegates in further development of business opportunities identified during the mission. 10. Management will implement a business mission monitoring and evaluation plan. Through quantitative surveying of and meeting with participants to establish an evidence-based assessment of the mission’s effectiveness, and creating an opportunity for Councillors to engage with participants to get their feedback first-hand.
Page 2 of 24
Recommendation from management
11. That Council:
11.1. Notes this report and attached summary of benefits and outcomes of the City of Melbourne mission to Japan and China.
11.2. Notes that work will continue with mission delegates in the development of business opportunities identified during the mission.
Attachments: 1. Supporting Attachment 2. Outcomes 3. Business Mission Itinerary 4. Photos 5. Overseas Media Attention Page 3 of 24
Attachment 1 Agenda item 6.4 Council 29 May 2018
Supporting Attachment
Finance
1. The costs associated with Councillor participation was $23,936.98. This comprised of the following:
1.1 $12,080.42 for Councillor Louey as the mission leader including airfare ($7,443.35), accommodation ($4,279.06) and incidentals ($358.01).
1.2 $11,856.56 For Councillor Le Liu including airfare ($8,020.05), accommodation ($3,162.32) and incidentals ($674.19)
Conflict of interest
2. No member of Council staff, or other person engaged under a contract, involved in advising on or preparing this report has declared a direct or indirect interest in relation to the matter of the report.
Relation to Council policy
3. The Director, City Economy and Activation has confirmed that the travel costs accord with the requirements of the travel guidelines outlined in the Councillor Expenses and Resources Guidelines.
4. The mission delivered Council Plan Year 1 action (Major Initiative) Plan and deliver a City of Melbourne led business mission to key markets in China and Japan, as outlined in Melbourne: Doing Business Globally endorsed by Council November 2014. The innovation and start-ups sector is well represented in the mission, which has strong alignment to Council’s Start-up Action Plan endorsed by Council in 2017.
Environmental sustainability
5. The carbon emission resulting from air travel was offset with the purchase of credits.
Page 4 of 24 Attachment 2 Agenda item 6.4 Council 29 May 2018 OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS OF TRAVEL
Outcomes
1. The following is a summary of the outcomes arising from the travel.
1.1. Councillors, through high level meetings with civic and business leaders in each city visited by the mission in Japan and China, have strengthened and deepened Melbourne’s long standing and productive international partnerships
1.2. Positively reaffirmed and enhanced important international links for Melbourne through celebratory activities aligned with the 40th anniversary of the Melbourne Osaka sister city relationship, 38 year old Melbourne Tianjin sister city relationship and the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Melbourne Office Tianjin, led by foundation Chief Representative Dr Wei Chaoyi. The office has facilitated significant business, civic and cultural connections between Melbourne and Tianjin. The mission leveraged these milestones to deepen and broaden Council’s Asia presence and focus .
1.3. Two Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreements were signed between the City of Melbourne and the cities of Osaka and Tianjin, which will facilitate further links, enhance knowledge and capability sharing in urban design and planning and tourism activation. In particular the MOU on sister street relations between Swanston Street and Osaka’s Midousuji Bouevard, will project Melbourne’s urban design excellence.
1.4. Two additional MoUs were signed between Melbourne organisations and their China partners:
1.4.1. MoU between RMIT University and Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City focusing on collaboration in innovation, start-up, research and development.
1.4.2. MoU between Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tianjin Federation of Industry and Commerce promoting economic and trade cooperation, technology transfer and inward investment.
1.5. Delivered over 300 tailored business matching meetings for business mission delegates in the health and life sciences, urban design, aviation, education and innovation sectors . Meetings were facilitated with the support of the Victorian Government Trade and Investment Offices, Australian Consulate General and Austrade, and economic development agencies in the target cities.
1.6. Supported the Melbourne Osaka Health Innovation Exchange (MOHIE) program which enabled four Melbourne medical technology startups to undertake a tailored three day business development program. This included pitch events, networking functions and knowledge sharing visits to Osaka hospitals and research facilities. The program demonstrated Melbourne’s strengths in medical technology and health innovation.
1.7. Demonstrated Council’s policy thought leadership, by delivering a Women in Business Roundtable in Osaka. The roundtable’s 22 attendees, discussed women’s economic empowerment and issues important to women in the workplace.
1.8. Demonstrated Melbourne’s reputation as a global food and cultural destination through presentations and panel discussion at a Osaka Food and Tourism Symposium, attended by 120 business representatives.
1.9. Investigated opportunities for future links between Melbourne and Kansai games development sector (Osaka). The site visit to HAL – College of Technology & Design and meeting with games developer Skeleton Crew Studio, provided delegates with deeper understanding of the market.
1.10. Reached over 200,000 people through regular posts on City of Melbourne social media channels including 3,000 on Council’s WeChat channel, generating over 80 stories on Twitter and attracted over 1000 hits to the corporate website.
1.11. Generated more than 35 news stories in China and Japan about the business mission in major newspapers such as Tianjin Daily and Binhai Newspaper (China) and the Nikkei, Mainichi and Asahi Newspapers (Japan).
Page 5 of 24
1.12. Councillor Louey and Councillor Le Liu were interviewed on ‘Foreigners Perspective’ program, Tianjin Binhai Channel Broadcast Radio. Mr Ben Rimmer (CEO) was interviewed during his visit to Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (SSTEC). These interviews promoted Melbourne as a dynamic and sophisticated economy with world-leading capabilities;
1.13. Introduced Melbourne Innovation District (MID) as a future gateway for China partners to engage with Melbourne business. Significant leads and links were generated with the powerful Chinese entities Zhongguancun Innovation Precinct and Torch High Technology Industry Development Torch Centre (Beijing). These leads will be pursued as it is anticipated they will enhance Melbourne’s start-up and innovation ecosystem.
1.14. Progressed the Jiangsu Victoria Innovation and Research Centre (JVIRC) project through high- level meetings with Suzhou Science and Technology Town and Suzhou High-tech Venture Capital Group. The result will realise a fully operational Melbourne-based incubator offering China literate incubation services and a robust China business platform to link Melbourne/Victorian businesses and start-ups to trusted and qualified China partners.
1.15. Received strong, positive feedback from business mission delegates regarding relevance of business meetings to their individual business objectives. Feedback has indicated that the level of support provided by Councillors and staff, fully demonstrated the business mission’s ability to enhance market understanding and create business connections.
Benefits
2. The following is a summary of the benefits associated from the travel.
2.1. Successfully branded Melbourne in the context of excellence and world leading capabilities, including in health, liveability, innovation and tourism (as a destination city);
2.2. Promoted the Melbourne brand and key capabilities internationally which provided a powerful platform and context for City of Melbourne companies to showcase their individual business capabilities.
2.3. Increased Melbourne’s economic prosperity by connecting export ready Melbourne companies to Japan and China; two significant export markets for Victoria.
2.4. Increased City of Melbourne’s public diplomacy reach through high-level civic and business leader meetings, functions and presentations on topics such as Melbourne’s liveability, urban design and health credentials as well as public exhibitions such as the Swanston Street photo exhibition (Osaka).
2.5. Developed links between Melbourne and cities visited that will further enhance and add value to priority Council projects such as the Melbourne Innovation District and Startup Action Plan. These links will contribute to investment and partnerships in the Melbourne Innovation District. The mission actioned international elements of Council’s Start-up Action Plan, and in doing so, created a foundation for further international co-operation and investment.
2.6. Consolidated city to city collaboration through agreements of reciprocal visits to be made by key stakeholders including an official visit from Suzhou, China (July) and the Mayor of Osaka (in December). These visits will further provide opportunities for Council and business representatives to build prosperity, enhance knowledge and showcase Melbourne’s world class capabilities such as the Parkville Medical Precinct.
2.7. Introduced Melbourne’s substantial startup and innovation ecosystem to the important markets of Japan and China by delivering the FutureHealth Asia Pitchfest event in Osaka and through meeting key Chinese innovation stakeholders such as the Alibaba Group and Torch innovation precinct.
2.8. Increased Council’s knowledge of key Chinese and Japanese initiatives in the entrepreneurial and innovation space. Knowledge gained will better inform implementation of the international connection element of the City of Melbourne Startup Action Plan 2017-21.
Page 6 of 24
2.9. Increased Council’s understanding of Osaka’s urban design and planning objectives in relation to the Midousuji Boulevard upgrade project. The links facilitated through the sister street Memorandum of Understanding will lead to further leveraging opportunities to both promote its urban design capabilities internationally and further strengthen in-house knowledge through ongoing exchange with Osaka, a world’s best practice city.
Attachment 3 Page 7 of 24 Agenda item [ ] Council 29 May 2018
2018 COM BUSINESS MISSION ITINERARY
Day City Business Activities
Tuesday Melbourne Depart for Osaka (evening flight) 20 March
Osaka arrival and hotel check-in
‘Welcome to Naniwa’ - Market Intelligence Dinner Wednesday Osaka Consul General David Lawson and 21 March Commissioner for Victoria Adam Cunneen to outline Kansai business environment and opportunities
Concurrent activities - morning:
Melbourne Osaka Health Innovation Exchange - FutureHealth Asia Seminar - Osaka Innovation Hub Melbourne-Osaka Women in Business Roundtable Site visit to games developer - Skeleton Crew Studio Innovation networking lunch Thursday Osaka 22 March Concurrent activities – afternoon:
Melbourne Osaka Health Innovation Exchange: Startup PitchFest One-on-one business matching series Site visit to HAL – College of Technology & Design (games development and design)
City of Osaka Welcome Reception
Concurrent activities - morning:
Market update breakfast with Victorian Trade Commissioner and Consulate-General of Australia in Osaka Mayor of Osaka and Osaka City Council President Courtesy Call Midosuji-Swanston Sister Street MoU signing and monument unveiling ceremony Tour of Swanston Street panel exhibition at Osaka City Hall Business matching meetings and site visits with counterpart Osaka companies for health, education and innovation delegates Friday Osaka 23 March Concurrent activities – afternoon:
City of Osaka Public Works Director-General meeting – urban design and street activation knowledge exchange Melbourne-Osaka Food and Tourism Symposium Site visit to dementia research facility Wellness Open Living Lab at Osaka City University Business matching meetings and site visits with counterpart Osaka companies for health, education and innovation delegates
40th Anniversary and Business Networking Dinner
Saturday Osaka Free time/Cultural visits 24 March
Page 8 of 24
Day City Business Activities
Travel to Beijing and hotel check in
China program commences
Sunday Delegates ready to depart for Alibaba Beijing Beijing 25 March Wangjing Campus
Site visit to Alibaba Beijing Wangjing office
2018 Business Mission to China dinner briefing
Concurrent activities – morning and noon:
Aviation, Life science and Sustainable urban design stream Business matching session jointly organised with Invest Beijing in Grand Hyatt Beijing Networking lunch with Invest Beijing and business matching
Innovation and start-up stream Business roundtable with Zhongguancun Administrative Committee Visit to Global Health Drug Discovery Institute Boardroom lunch with Torch High Technology Industry Development Monday Beijing/ Centre 26 March Tianjin Travel to Tianjin and hotel check in
Courtesy call with Vice Mayor of Tianjin
MoUs signing ceremony
MoU between City Economy and Activation of City of Melbourne and Tianjin Municipal Tourism Administration MoU between RMIT University and Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City MoU between Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tianjin Federation of Industry and Commerce
Welcome dinner hosted by Tianjin Municipal Government
Business matching session for Innovation, Life science and Sustainable urban design stream in Binhai New Area
Site visit to Binhai Cultural Centre
Courtesy call with Administrative Committee of Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco- City (SSTEC) followed by site tour in SSTEC Tuesday Tianjin 27 March Business lunch with Administrative Committee of SSTEC
Concurrent activities – afternoon:
Sustainable urban design stream Roundtable discussion with SSTEC low-carbon demonstration industrial park and SSTEC Green Building Research Institute
Page 9 of 24
Day City Business Activities
Innovation and Start-up stream Roundtable discussion with SSTEC incubator representatives including Think Big & Tusstar and Heihang Starry Sky
Life science stream
Tuesday Tianjin Site visit and meeting with Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biomedicine 27 March
Melbourne–Tianjin sister city relationship roundtable discussion with Tianjin Municipal Government
Networking dinner to recognise the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the Melbourne Office Tianjin
Business matching session in Life science, Innovation and start-up stream
Concurrent activities – morning:
Media interview by Tianjin Binhai Channel live program “Foreigners Perspective” in Tianjin People's Broadcasting Station (Radio Tianjin) Wednesday Tianjin/
28 March Wuxi Courtesy meeting with Director of Tianjin Broadcast Station
Business meeting Vice Director of Organisation Department of CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee
Travel to Wuxi and hotel check in
Industry visit to Hongshan IoT (Internet of Things) Town – a joint smart city initiative by Alibaba and Wuxi Xinwu District government
Business lunch hosted by Wuxi Chamber of Commerce
Business matching session
Civic delegates to have high-level working meeting with Wuxi Foreign Affairs Office
Thursday Wuxi Site visit to Xinli Museum - a project by Australian Wuxi Chamber of 29 March Commerce
Courtesy call with Mayor of Wuxi
Welcome dinner hosted by Wuxi Municipal Government
Cherry blossom night tour in Turtle Had Park
Official program concludes for participants in health, general aviation and sustainable urban development sectors
Page 10 of 24
Day City Business Activities
Civic delegates and business delegates in Innovation and start-ups stream travel to Suzhou
Site visit to the Planning Exhibition Hall of Suzhou New District
Site visit to Jiangsu Victoria Innovation and Research Centre (JVIRC) - Suzhou Accelerator Tour of the JVIRC Suzhou Accelerator JVIRC Suzhou Accelerator Stage Two Opening ceremony
Friday Courtesy call with Suzhou New District Administration Committee Suzhou 30 March Courtesy call with Vice Mayor of Suzhou followed by welcome lunch hosted by Suzhou Municipal Government
Concurrent activities – afternoon:
Working group meeting with Jiangsu Victoria Innovation and Research Centre - Suzhou Accelerator Site visit to the Tram Exhibition Hall of Suzhou New District
2018 COM mission program concludes
Page 11 of 24 Attachment 4 Agenda item 6.4 Council 29 May 2018
PHOTOS
Courtesy call between Councillor Louey and Mayor Yoshimura, Osaka, Japan
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding of the sister street agreement (Councillor Louey and Vice Mayor Tanaka), Osaka, Japan
Unveiling of the sister street monument, Osaka, Japan
8 Page 12 of 24
Mr Mark Stone, CEO of Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mr Tsutomu Miyagi
Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry/Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Courtesy Call
Delegation visit to Alibaba Group, Beijing, China
9 Page 13 of 24
Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony, Tianjin China
Business matching session underway for Melbourne delegates in Tianjin, China
Some of the Melbourne delegates during a start-up business matching session in Wuxi
10 Page 14 of 24
Melbourne Office Tianjin 20th Anniversary seminar
Jiangsu-Victoria Innovation Research Centre, Suzhou Accelerator Stage Two Opening ceremony (Cr Louey and Cr Le Liu ribbon cutting), Suzhou,China
Courtesy call hosted by Suzhou Vice Mayor XU Meijian
11 Page 15 of 24 Attachment 5 Agenda item 6.4 Council 29 May 2018
NEWS ARTICLES – No. 1 Midosuji and Australian Street Sign Agreement for Urban Development 23/3/2018 12:06, Nikkei Shimbun
The City of Osaka has signed a Sister City Agreement between its main street, Midosuji, and Swanston Street in Melbourne’s city centre. Both cities will exchange information on challenges and tasks ahead for each other to aid urban development.
The Melbourne delegation to Japan visited Mayor Hirofumi
Yoshimura on the morning of the 23rd. Cr. Kevin Louey, leading the Melbourne Cr. Kevin Louey (left), Delegation Leader from the City of Melbourne and Osaka delegation, was enthusiastic, Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura (Morning, 23rd, City of Osaka Council Office) stating, “[The agreement will] take the sister city relationship to the next level.” Mayor Yoshimura stated, “I hope to further enhance the value of Midosuji and create a space where people gather.”
Mayor Yoshimura stated his intention to open up the side streets as pedestrian walkways by 2025, when it aims to attract the 2025 International Exposition (World’s Fair). The city looks to Swanston Street which has reorganised the street for use by pedestrians and trams.
Melbourne and Osaka have signed a Sister City Agreement Seigo Tanaka (Vice Mayor of Osaka) and others stand with Melbourne City Delega in 1978 and celebrates its 40th tes in front of the commemorative plaque for the Sister City Agreement (Morning, rd anniversary this year. 23 , in front of Osaka City Council Office)
12 Page 16 of 24
NEWS ARTICLES – No. 2
Osaka and Melbourne Sign First Sister Street Agreement Mainichi Shimbun 19:09 25th March 2018 (Last update: 19:26 25/3)
The City of Osaka, on its 80th anniversary of establishing its main street, Midosuji, signed its first Sister Street Agreement with the City of Melbourne. The unveiling of the plaque was held on the 23rd to celebrate the signing of the agreement with representatives from the city of Melbourne.
The City of Osaka is moving to change the Midosuji from a car-centric space to one where people can gather, with plans to turn side streets into pedestrian walkways.
City officials from Melbourne and Osaka at the unveiling of the plaque to commemorate the Sister Street Agreement (11:34 am 23/3/2018, Kita Ward, Osaka City. Photography, Kayo Mukuda)
The two cities both have a main street and continue to exchange information on reorganising road spaces. Swanston Street in Australia has seen projects to prioritise pedestrians and trams as early as 1986 and is a forerunner to Osaka. Despite being an octogenarian, Midosuji learns from its older sister to continue further growth. [Kayo Mukuda]
13 Page 17 of 24
NEWS ARTICLES – No. 3
The Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau Assisted in Successfully Hosting the 2018 City of Melbourne China Mission Business Seminar
Publishing Date: 2018-04-13 14:27 Source: zfxxgk.beijing.gov.cn
On the morning of 26 March, the Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau assisted the City of Melbourne Council to successfully host the 2018 City of Melbourne China Mission Business Seminar in Beijing. Councillor Kevin Louey, Chair of the Prosperous City portfolio and Deputy Chair of the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio and Mr Xu Zongjun, Deputy Director of the Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau attended the seminar and delivered speeches.
The City of Melbourne has visited China many times in recent years to promote and strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China. The 2018 City of Melbourne Business Mission to China not only included senior officials from the City of Melbourne Council, but also included representatives from 15 companies and institutions from Melbourne across different sectors including: sustainable urban development, technological innovation, medical health, and general aviation. At the seminar, representatives from seven companies and institutions from Melbourne introduced their respective developments and conducted one- on-one exchanges and negotiations with more than 30 counterpart companies and institutions invited by the Bureau. Rongshi Group, Beijing Zheda Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Harmony Sanyu Education Technology Co., Ltd. have reached preliminary cooperation intentions with related Melbourne companies.
Since 2011, the Bureau and the City of Melbourne have maintained exchanges and cooperation and conducted more than 10 bilateral visits, business seminars and project matching events. We have provided practical business matching efforts and negotiation opportunities across sectors including medical, health, green energy and energy conservation, education and culture, and sustainable urban development. We have provided a platform for communication, investment and cooperation between companies and institutions in Beijing and Melbourne.
14 Page 18 of 24
NEWS ARTICLES – No. 4
City of Melbourne China Mission Visits the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city
Publishing Date: 2018-03-27 23:15:05 Source: China News Network
China News Service, Tianjin, March 27th (Reporter Zhang Daozheng) The City of Melbourne Mission visited the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City on the afternoon of the 27th and exchanged views with outstanding Eco-City entrepreneurs.
Tianjin and Melbourne, Australia are sister cities. Since establishing the sister city relationship in 1980, friendly relations between the two cities has been developing smoothly and new areas for cooperation have been explored. Since 2011, senior officials from the City of Melbourne have led three missions to visit Tianjin. The two cities have conducted successful exchanges and cooperation in biotechnology, clean energy, green buildings, professional services, and many other fields and achieved fruitful results.
On the afternoon of the 27th March, Ben Rimmer, Chief Executive Officer of the City of Melbourne, led a delegation to visit the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City. The delegation not only included senior officials from the City of Melbourne but also Melbourne representatives from life sciences, innovation and start-ups, sustainable urban development, and general aviation sectors.
During the visit, the City of Melbourne delegation held talks with outstanding entrepreneurs from the Eco- City. Dr Fu Erjiang, Chairman of the Australia-China Association of Scientists and Entrepreneurs, presented the ways and means of establishing cooperation between scientific innovation organisations from China and Australia. Karyn Sobels, Principal of SKS Co., Ltd., talked about relevant experience on how SMEs can maximize corporate value. The Eco-City entrepreneur representatives briefed the Melbourne delegation on the achievements made by Eco-City in the development of the cultural and creative industries and technological innovation sectors.
In addition, the two sides conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges on artificial intelligence, biomedicine, materials science, aerospace, environment, ecology, and sustainable urban development, helping Eco-City companies to expand their international horizons and establish international cooperation. This will also help to attract more international high-end R&D teams and innovative companies to know more about the Eco-City, to come to the Eco-City, and to stay in the Eco-City. (End)
15 Page 19 of 24
NEWS ARTICLES – No. 5
City of Melbourne Business Mission Visits Tianjin to Promote Friendly Exchanges and Cooperation between Tianjin and Melbourne President Wang Yuying Invited to Attend Related Events
Publishing date: 13/04/2018 Source: http://www.tscpe.org/chn/News_Show.asp?id=1226
From March 26th to 28th, Mr Kevin Louey Councillor of the City of Melbourne and Chair of the Prosperous City portfolio, led a government and business mission of 27 people to Tianjin to promote friendly exchanges and cooperation between Tianjin and Melbourne. The Tianjin Tourism Bureau and the City of Melbourne Economy and Activation Group, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco- City and RMIT University, and the Tianjin Federation of Industry and Commerce and the Australian Federation of Industry and Commerce in Victoria signed cooperation agreements in areas such as strengthening tourism, research, training, economic and trade cooperation.
In addition, the delegation also held discussions with the Organization Department of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee and the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Management Committee; two business matching sessions were held in the areas of health care, green building, general aviation, and creative innovation; the “Tianjin-Melbourne Friendly Exchanges Symposium” was held and the delegation visited the Cultural Centre at the Binhai New Area. During the visit to Tianjin, Councillor Kevin Louey and Councillor Philip Le Liu went to Tianjin People's Broadcasting Station (Radio Tianjin) and were interviewed on the program “Foreigners Perspective”.
Tianjin and Melbourne are the first pair of sister cities between China and Australia. Since the establishment of the relationship in 1980, the two sides have had close interactions in people-to-people exchanges, in economic and trade areas, education and training, and technological innovation. In 1998, the Melbourne Office Tianjin was established in Tianjin. Over the past 38 years, the two cities have continuously expanded their all-round and multi-discipline exchanges and contributed to a number of important cooperation achievements such as the Tianjin Municipal Government Leaders Training Program.
Mr Wang Yuying, President of the Tianjin Sister-City Council for the Promotion of Enterprises, attended events including the “Tianjin-Melbourne Friendly Exchanges Symposium”.
16 Page 20 of 24
NEWS ARTICLES – No. 6
Delegation from Melbourne, Australia Visits Wuxi
Publishing date: 04/04/2018 Source: http://fao.wuxi.gov.cn/doc/2018/04/04/1793401.shtml
On March 29, Councillor Kevin Louey from the City of Melbourne, Australia, led a government and business delegation to Wuxi and visited relevant companies from the city's start-up business incubation, biomedicine, life science and technology, internet of things, and general aviation sectors. Discussions were held with the Wuxi Municipal Science and Technology Bureau and the Wuxi Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. The Wuxi- Melbourne Economic and Trade Fair was also held.
During the discussions between the City of Melbourne delegation and the Wuxi Municipal Science and Technology Bureau and the Wuxi Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the two sides talked about the technological innovation and business incubation situations in the two cities and had in-depth discussions. They believe that the economic partnership city relationship between the two cities will inject more impetus into in-depth exchanges of technical talent and industrial development. At present, the City of Wuxi has established economic partnership city relationships with Ulsan City in South Korea, Toronto in Canada, and the City of Melbourne in Australia. It hopes that this will be an opportunity for the four cities to jointly establish a multilateral cooperation mechanism framework, integrate superior resources, and achieve common development goals.
At the Wuxi-Melbourne Economic and Trade Fair, 12 representatives from major associations and companies from the City of Melbourne talked with Wuxi enterprises during the business matching session.
17 Page 21 of 24
The key areas covered include biomedicine, general aviation, mechanical design and manufacturing, architectural design, and education and training. A number of Chinese companies have reached preliminary cooperation intentions with Australian companies and expressed their willingness to use this good start to carry out future practical and effective cooperation.
The delegation also visited Start-up Square in the High-Tech Zone, Wuxi (Mashan) National Life Science Park, Huafei Aviation Development Group and the Hongshan Internet of Things Town in our city.
Melbourne has a very well developed economy which accounts for 25% of Victoria's GDP and 6% of Australia's GDP. Melbourne has outstanding strengths in biotechnology, life sciences, higher education, medical research, ICT, financial services, sustainable cities construction, and industrial design. Wuxi signed a memorandum of understanding with Melbourne on the establishment of an economic partner city relationship in 2016. The cooperation between the two cities is based on trade and economy, and will be carried out in the fields of culture, education, sports, and tourism.
18 Page 22 of 24
NEWS ARTICLES – No. 7
City of Melbourne Delegation Visits Suzhou
Publishing date: 03/04/2018 Source: http://www.sfao.gov.cn/shownews.asp?id=9582
On 30th of March 2018, a City of Melbourne delegation of 17 people from Australia, visited Suzhou, led by Councillor Kevin Louey. Xu Meijian, Deputy Mayor and Secretary of the Party Committee of the High-Tech Zone met with the delegation at the Qingshan Convention Centre.
Xu Meijian briefly explained the situation in Suzhou and the High-Tech Zone and stated that there are good cooperative projects in the areas of science, technology and education between Suzhou and Melbourne, laying the foundation for increased exchanges in medical care, environmental protection, culture, arts , business and trade. Councillor Kevin Louey thanked Suzhou for its warm hospitality and said that the two cities share common characteristics and needs in terms of technological innovation, industrial development, and environmental protection. Melbourne is willing to expand cooperation with Suzhou in related fields.
During the stay in Suzhou, Councillor Kevin Louey and Mr Chen Ming, member of the Party Committee of the High-Tech Zone and Party Secretary of the Science and Technology Town Party Committee, jointly unveiled the second phase of the Jiangsu-Victoria Research and Innovation Centre. Councillor Louey also had discussions with Mr Wu Xinming, Deputy Party Secretary of the Science and Technology Town and Director of the Administrative Committee. The delegation led by Councillor Kevin Louey also visited the Planning Exhibition Hall of the High-Tech Zone and the tram company. Tao Guanhong and Zheng Yimin, leaders from the District accompanied the delegation on the visits.
19 Page 23 of 24
NEWS ARTICLES – No. 8
Suzhou High-Tech Zone adds Impetus to Sino-Australian Cooperative Development in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Jiangsu-Victoria Research and Innovation Centre Unveils Phase Two Project
Time: 2018-04-02 16:42:46 Source: Binhai High-tech: www.022china.com
(Binhai High-Tech News Site on 30th of March) The delegation from the City of Melbourne, Australia visited the Suzhou High-Tech Zone. Councillor Kevin Louey, Chair of the Prosperous City portfolio and the Deputy Chair of the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio attended the unveiling and the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the second phase of the Jiangsu-Victoria Research and Innovation Centre. Mr Xu Meijian, Deputy Mayor and Party Secretary of the Party Committee of the High-Tech Zone, and District leaders Wu Xinming, Chen Ming, Tao Guanhong, and Zheng Yimin accompanied the delegation and attended the ceremony.
The “Jiangsu-Victoria Research and Innovation Centre” is the first overseas offshore incubator established by Jiangsu Province in Australia and is also the first China-Australia cooperative platform for scientific and technological transformation. The Centre is made up of an offshore incubator (Australia) and an onshore accelerator (Suzhou). The Centre has adopted the model of "initiating research and development at the offshore incubator" and "accelerating entrepreneurship through the onshore accelerator". The Cooperation Memorandum was signed on 23rd March 2017 and the “Jiangsu-Victoria Research and Innovation Centre” onshore accelerator was put into operation in July 2017. The offshore incubator was also officially launched in Melbourne at the end of August of the same year, and together they will conduct research, innovation, transformation and cooperation in the fields of information technology, new energy, medical devices and biomedicine. At the same time, through mechanisms such as the creation of investment portfolio funds and the "Sunan Cup" Start-up Competition, social capital will be brought together to attract high-end innovation elements such as talent and technology, to promote research and innovation, to accelerate transformation, to promote regional industrial transformation, technological upgrades, technological innovation, financial innovation, and to create and improve innovation ecology.
Since its establishment, the Centre has actively promoted innovation and entrepreneurship exchanges between the two sides. At the end of March 2017, the first Sunan Cup Start-up Competition (Australian Competition) was launched in Melbourne. The finals were held in the High-Tech Zone in July of the same year, during the Suzhou International Elite Week and the award ceremony was held on 31 August in Australia. Six projects were awarded first, second and third prizes.
Phase Two of the Innovation Centre has added 2500 square metres of space for innovation and entrepreneurship projects, which will be used to carry out various incubation services for more start -up projects. All Australian guests visited the Jiangsu-Victoria Research and Innovation Centre. In addition, they also visited the High-Tech Zone Exhibition Hall and the tram company.
20 Page 24 of 24
Xu Meijian briefly explained the situation in Suzhou and the High-Tech Zone to the Australian guests. Suzhou is a famous historical city with a history dating back more than 2500 years. It is known for its rich cultural background. In 2017, the city’s total GDP was 1.7 trillion Yuan, an increase of 7%, ranking seventh amongst all cities in China. Over the years, Suzhou and Australia have maintained good cooperative relations. In terms of trade, the total volume of Suzhou-Australia trade in 2017 was US$7.249 billion dollars, an increase of 38.2% year-on-year.
The High-Tech Zone is an important economic growth and independent innovation demonstration area and a high-tech industrial base in Suzhou. According to data, the total GDP of the region was 116 billion yuan in 2017, an increase of 7.3%; public finance revenue was 14.3 billion yuan, an increase of 10.2%; the total industrial output was 310.88 billion yuan, and the total import and export volume was US$ 41.08 billion dollars. Newly registered foreign capital reached US$1.78 billion dollars and actual utilised foreign investment was US$750 million dollars. At present, the High-Tech Zone is making great efforts to promote scientific and technological innovation, vigorously attracting various kinds of science and technology talent from home and abroad and setting up a range of high-level R&D institutions to develop the three new strategic emerging industries of information technology, new energy, medical devices and biomedicine. This is helping regional manufacturing to be more high-end, intelligent, green, service focused and developing a more recognisable brand; promoting the deep integration of the Internet, big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence with various industries and actively developing the sharing economy, digital economy, platform economy, modern supply chain and other new business models.
Xu Meijian welcomed Councillor Kevin Louey and all the Australian guests. He believes that Melbourne’s development in its economy, education, culture, and art is at the forefront of the world. The High-Tech Zone and Melbourne have much in common in areas such as technological innovation. He said that the High-Tech Zone and Suzhou City are very willing to further deepen cooperation, building on the already good cooperation, and to jointly work towards more extensive space for development in areas such as technological innovation, industrial development, education and culture. (Shi Wei)
21