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Latrobe Wins Sister City Program RecognitionLatrobe City Council has won Australia-wide recognition for its innovative sister city program with the City of Taizhou in China. By Latrobe City - 18th October 2007 - Back to News At the recent Australian Sister Cities Association (ASCA) annual conference held in Darwin, Latrobe City won the ‘Commerce and Industry’ award for its business visit to Taizhou conducted early in May this year.
Organised by the Latrobe City economic development division, the business exchange was part of Latrobe City’s China strategy, and included five council officials and twelve other delegates representing nine different business interests, primarily from the small to medium enterprise sector within Latrobe City.
Delegation leader, Latrobe City deputy mayor Cr David Wilson, said the business delegation had been aimed at exposing local small business representatives to their business ‘counterparts’ in Taizhou. "The exposure enabled an initial assessment of potential business links between the two sister cities," Cr Wilson explained.
"Latrobe City is extremely proud to have now been recognised for this initiative through the Commerce and Industry award presented at the ASCA conference.
"The award recognised the opportunity and benefit for participating businesses, and the success of the business exchange. It is an award to be shared by both cities – in fact two trophies came with the award; one for Latrobe City and another for the City of Taizhou," Cr Wilson said.
Latrobe City’s acting manager marketing and communications, Danny McDonald, said ASCA aims to assist members to establish, maintain and continually improve sister city relationships throughout the world. "It is the ideal forum for networking with other people and municipalities who aim to share knowledge to build positive international relationships," Mr Mc Donald said.
"This year’s 25th annual conference drew a huge attendance to hear distinguished speakers including The Hon Jim Lloyd MP, Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads; Mayor Jeong Jong-hae, county mayor of Boseong-gun, Jeollanamdo, Republic of Korea; and the director of the United Nations Information Centre for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, Mr Abdullah Saleh Mbamba.
"Other speakers came from Darwin, New Zealand, Alaska and the Korean Local Government Centre in Sydney. The conference theme was ‘Making the Connection’."
Cr David Wilson said that the Latrobe City business delegation to Taizhou embraced ‘making the connection’ as its central focus.
"The business delegation in May has paved the way for further business follow-up to occur, particularly by those who participated. It has also set a precedent for more business exchanges to be organised along a similar pattern. Our business connection has been made. Moreover, our visit in May also included discussions with the Victorian State Government Business Office in Shanghai. Naturally, this was another important connection which was made from our business exchange.
"Our sister-city relationship with Taizhou commenced ten years ago and the trust and understanding which has evolved over this time, enabled our business exchange to be successful. It is certainly not a case of arriving one day and signing contracts the next. It all takes time, and Latrobe City has a good understanding of those cultural aspects which underpin sister-city relationships," Cr Wilson said.
"Latrobe City Council has been a strong supporter of the Australian Sister Cities Association for many years and has long established sister city links with the City of Taizhou and the City of Takasago in Japan. The further we progress these relationships, the more the benefits become evident for the participating communities," Cr Wilson added.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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