Shanghai opportunity for mayor

An opportunity ‘too good to miss’ was the bottom line when committing to participate at the Shanghai Expo in China, later this month, Queenstown Lakes District Council Mayor Clive Geddes said.

Mr Geddes would join an Otago delegation to China together with Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, Clutha District Mayor Juno Hayes and representatives from Otago business and education sectors.
The delegation’s purpose was to reinforce the relationship that already existed between Otago and Shanghai (through the Dunedin Sister City relationship) and to establish new relationships across several sectors.

Meetings with politicians, high level business individuals and influential representatives from Chinese education and business industries, including construction and airline industries was simply too good an opportunity to pass on.

“Access to the type of people we are scheduled to meet in one place, over a short space of time can only be facilitated through ‘introductions’ associated with an event of the scale and nature of the Shanghai Expo. This opportunity is both unique and unprecedented,’ Mr Geddes said.

He would travel to China on 21 May with the delegation, spending three days holding meetings and attending functions at the New Zealand pavilion, including a function for the Mayor of Shanghai and meeting with the presidents of six Chinese universities, construction groups and airlines.

A further series of ‘arranged’ meetings had also been facilitated for Mr Geddes in Shanghai with a specific focus on the Lakes District.

“My aim is to establish links with people in Chinese business sectors and leave them with an entirely positive view of what we as a community have to offer both to visitors and investment,’ Mr Geddes said.

The cost of the eight-day trip was isolated to the cost of the airfare, accommodation (and a small contribution for overheads) and was in the order of $6-8000.

“It’s quite simple; I would not be going if I did not think it was worthwhile,” Mr Geddes said.
The delegation had been discussed with Councillors who supported the visit.