By Cam Lucadou-Wells
GENERATIONS to come will be thankful for Casey’s planned trade mission to China at the cost of up to $25,000, says Casey mayor Sam Aziz.
Cr Aziz was keen to dispel talk at a council meeting on 6 December that the delegation to Chengdu in south-west China in early 2017 was a “junket”.
“Casey is by no means alone to pursue economic investment in China.
“This is not an unusual step to make – to spend a very small amount of money to deliver very significant investment returns,” he said.
According to a council report, Chengdu has a high level of Australian representation and was seeking international co-operation to break its geographic isolation.
Its districts include hubs of research, universities, car manufacture, agriculture, solar and tourism.
Cr Aziz argued that the mission was a necessary, strategic step for Casey’s economic and jobs development.
Fast-growing Casey would be a likely target for a “formidable” number of wealthy Chinese looking to invest abroad.
Cr Aziz said Casey’s previous mission to China in 2013 was not a holiday, but full of meetings and flights to five cities in four days.
For example, there was no time for him to even get a glimpse of The Great Wall of China in Beijing during the hectic schedule.
For the cost of up to $6000, the trip led to three Casey companies landed more than $22 million in property deals with Chinese counterparts, leading to local jobs, Cr Aziz said.
Cr Aziz said the council didn’t need to offer incentives, such as rates relief, to investors.
“We think the investment story alone is an attractive story.”
The trip was approved by a majority of councillors, but not without some debate.
Cr Rosalie Crestani, though supporting the trip, expressed a reservation that no land in Casey should be sold overseas as a result.
The mayor said that the sale of land was outside Casey’s control.
Dissenting councillor Steve Beardon said the arguments stacked up, but trade missions shouldn’t be the province of local governments, especially given Victoria and Australia’s vast representation in China.
“I think it’s way out of our neck of the woods.”
Cr Beardon was also concerned about China’s impact on local manufacturers and its human rights record.
Cr Aziz replied that Casey’s planned advanced manufacturing hub – its own ‘Silicon Valley’ in Berwick – would not be in direct competition with Chinese-made products.
He said Victoria’s trade advocacy on its own would not necessarily direct investment into Casey. Human rights issues were the theme of Federal Government diplomacy.
“I’m very comfortable about this,” Cr Aziz said.
“The returns on investment will be so significant that generations to come will thank us for making that investment.”
Councillors Rex Flannery and Tim Jackson, who like Cr Beardon were recently elected on minimising financial waste, also dissented until there was more detail on the financial benefits.
The delegation of Cr Aziz, councillor Wayne Smith and two council officers is expected to be joined by representatives from two Casey businesses that already trade in China.
The business people, who will join the trip at their own expense, were past winners of Casey-Cardinia business of the year awards, but not named by Cr Aziz.
Cr Smith said he would contribute to making partnerships in the arts and student exchanges. He cited the opportunity to help facilitate Cranbourne Chorale’s upcoming trip to China.
Cardinia Council will be invited to join the delegation.
