Sister City Relationships and Business Partner Cities
The City of Melbourne uses its sister city relationships and the Business Partner Cities (BPC) network to open doors for business. In conjunction with the Australian Industry Group (AIG), we coordinate business missions to partner cities hosting the annual BPC roundtable meeting.
In addition to business briefings and appointments, these missions provide ideal networking opportunities. Participants meet delegates from other partner cities and also gain privileged access to key business and political leaders in the city or cities being visited.
Business Partner City (BPC) mission and study tour 2011: Osaka, Japan
The City of Melbourne led a business mission and study tour to Osaka, Japan in 2011. Future Melbourne (Economic Development and Knowledge City) Chair Cr Kevin Louey led the two missions, which promoted Melbourne in the targeted sectors, strengthened the economic links between the BPC cities, and helped participants gain valuable insight in to advanced waste to energy technologies and develop business relationships.
The targeted sectors for the missions were:
- environmental consultancy
- green building technology
- scientific equipment
- water and energy management services
- healthcare and wellness.
Enhancing Melbourne’s role as a global knowledge city
The City of Melbourne celebrates Melbourne's intellectual capital through supporting activities, events and proposals in sectors that continue to strengthen Melbourne's position as a knowledge city.
Examples:
- In 2007 the City of Melbourne led a design mission to the City of Milan.
- In 2008 the Lord Mayor led a prestigious delegation of 20 participants representing 16 organisations.
- As part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Melbourne Office Tianjin (MOTJ), the mission went to Tianjin, Beijing, Delhi and Osaka.
- MOTJ also participated in the Asia Society’s 18th Asian Corporate Conference.
- In December 2009, jointly with AIG, the City of Melbourne organised a business mission to Hong Kong. The mission provided a cost-effective entry to the Hong Kong market and exposed mission members to one of Asia’s freest economies – a gateway to China.