The success of three Sydney companies operating in the Chinese city of Shenzhen will be explored at a forum aimed at strengthening business ties between China and Australia Sydney at Sydney Town Hall today.

Representatives from local firms playing an active role in reviving Shenzhen’s parklands, finding innovative solutions for its social housing challenges, and boosting its sporting and tourism industries will share their insights at the forum, which brings together top government and business leaders from Sydney and China.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the event would help open new doors for Sydney businesses in Shenzhen, a modern metropolis and rapidly growing special economic zone in the south-eastern province of Guangdong.

“Shenzhen is our partner city for the 2013 Chinese New Year Festival, and we’re following the celebrations with a forum to explore business opportunities and build strong networks between Sydney and China,” the Lord Mayor said.

“With a highly skilled workforce, healthy job market and strong economy, Sydney is Australia’s global city and the entry point to the Australian economy for most international businesses.

“Sydney already has a very strong trade relationship with China, estimated at around $10 billion each year. We look forward to strengthening this bond by working closely with government and business representatives from Shenzhen, one of China’s most important economic, trade and manufacturing centres.”

Three business case studies will be presented at today’s forum:

  • David Tickle from HASSELL Studio in Sydney will discuss the award-winning Australian architectural firm’s long-term presence in China and their projects in Shenzhen, including recent work developing master plans for the new Qianhai District in the city’s south, enhancing parklands across the city, and exploring new and innovative models for social housing for the region’s large migrant populations;
  • Daniella Tonetto from Starwood Hotels in Sydney will discuss the international hotel group’s expansion into China, including the five hotels they currently operate in Shenzhen, the 97 additional hotels they are planning to develop in China, and the success of a ‘personalised travel’ program which caters to the unique requirements of Chinese travellers, such as translated welcome materials and on-site translation services; and
  • Li Haojie from Tian Rong Investments in Shenzhen will discuss the partnership his business has built with Sydney’s International College of Management as part of a bid to develop Shenzhen’s ocean sport industry, resulting in the recent establishment of the Shenzhen International Sailing Sport College, which uses Australian teaching materials and methods.

The forum, hosted by the Lord Mayor, will feature special guests including the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Wu Yihuan, and the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney, Duan Jielong, in attendance.

The Deputy Director General of the Shenzhen Commission of Economy, Trade and Information, Gao Lin, and the City’s Executive Manager of Research, Strategy and Corporate Planning, Andrea Beattie, will present an overview of the economies, investment environments and business opportunities of Sydney and Shenzhen.

Key Australian government and industry leaders at the event will include representatives from the Australia China Business Council, the NSW Multicultural Business Advisory Panel, the Committee for Sydney, Destination NSW, Starwood Pacific Hotels, ANZ, The Star and the University of Sydney.

Businesses from Shenzhen represented at the event will include IT, auto and energy company BYD, telecommunications giants Huawei and ZTE, and computer networking company TP-LINK.

For more information, please contact:

City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Keeley Irvin.
Phone 0448 005 718 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Jonathon Larkin.
Phone 0477 310 149 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.