Geelong hosted a Japanese business delegation on Thursday under a new strategy to drive international investment to power innovation and boost local jobs.
Japanese Deputy Consul-General Ms Natsuko Miguchi lead the group of 20 local senior executives from Japanese companies in sectors ranging from Banking and Investment to International Japanese Trading companies.
The visit was organised in large part by Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong and featured tours of local manufacturing sites, including Carbon Nexus, Quickstep and Sykes rowing.
Geelong Gallery, as an initiating partner, also hosted an event to discuss Greater Geelong’s current business, design, and innovation ties with Japan, as well as future trade and investment aspirations. Attendees included representatives from the Australia-Japan Business Council of Victoria and local business leaders.
Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan, who welcomed the delegates, said building strong and close connections with Japan was critical to the success of the new international strategy and reflected the UNESCO City of Design designation and Sister City relationship with Izumiotsu.
Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan
The City is constantly seeking to maximise collaboration in order to capitalise on opportunities that will grow the region’s economy, benefiting local companies and workers.
Geelong also has a formal Sister City relationship in Japan and we are well on the way to achieving our long-term vision for Greater Geelong to be internationally recognised as a clever and creative region.
