Opportunities for Scenic Rim to be explored in Taiwan trip

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen will join his counterparts from Gladstone, Bundaberg and Redlands at two major events in Taiwan later this month to explore opportunities for business investment as well as recycling and renewable energy.

Fully funded by Trade and Investment Queensland, the Mayor’s trip to the Taiwan 2023 Smart City Summit and Expo and the 2050 Net Zero Summit and Expo, to be held in Taipei and Kaohsiung from 27 March to 1 April 2023, was endorsed at yesterday's Ordinary Meeting.

Mayor Christensen said the summit, with a focus on Digital and Green Transition, provided a valuable opportunity to meet with mayors from across Taiwan, as well as with Taiwanese businesses keen to explore investment opportunities, to discuss potential partnership opportunities within the Scenic Rim.

“Participation in both of these events, and in a calendar of other meetings negotiated by Trade and Investment Queensland around the conference agenda, represents a golden opportunity for our region,” he said.

“It underscores Council’s commitment to our Smart Region Strategy 2022-2032, to leading an innovative and progressive economy that attracts growth and investment, and to our Investment Attraction Strategic Framework within our Regional Prosperity Strategy 2020-2025.

“Opportunities for waste-to-energy, bio energy and advanced manufacturing are particularly relevant to the Scenic Rim, and these summits will also provide a forum for networking with investment businesses focused on waste circular economy (recycling) and renewable energy.”

Mayor Christensen said he was looking forward to exploring further investment attraction opportunities for the Scenic Rim, particularly those with potential for the Bromelton State Development Area, as well as for tourism accommodation infrastructure and to forging international relationships and partnerships.

The Taiwan visit will also showcase the Scenic Rim as the ‘Richest Place on Earth’ on the world stage and offers an opportunity to explore the potential to host teams in training in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as the region had been identified as the home of rowing.

“As Mayor, and as Chair of the Council of Mayors South East Queensland Waste Working Group, I am keen to explore the learnings that will best inform our ongoing journey towards zero avoidable waste in landfill in the Scenic Rim and beyond,” Mayor Christensen said.