A South Australian delegation of about 300 representatives from state and local government, businesses, universities and sport clubs has left for China, in what is the state’s largest ever trade mission.
The delegation, which is being led by Premier Jay Weatherill, will include 160 people from more than 100 local companies and will visit five cities in South Australia’s sister state, the Shandong province — in a bid to boost exports.
It is the 30th year of South Australia’s sister state relationship with Shandong.
Minister for Investment and Trade Martin Hamilton-Smith said China was South Australia’s most important market.
“I’m pleased that there are quite a large number of companies coming either for the first time to export at all, or the first time to China to export and we’re looking to make connections for them,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
“So every dollar of goods and services we sell to China helps to create a job back home, hence the need for this mission.”
The number of delegates attending the trade mission is up from last year’s figure of 250.
“It’s a really good signal, because we’re very keen to grow the 65,000 jobs in the South Australian economy, linked to goods and services overseas, and our most important market is China,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
He said those attending from the private sector would pay their own way to China and State Government representatives would attend to assist with interactions between the private sector and China’s Government.
The delegation will be in China for two weeks.
