Council to advance aquaculture opportunities with Singapore

Published on 11 September 2018

Rockhampton Regional Council has secured an Australian Government grant to lead a delegation to Singapore in October to advance conversations around aquaculture investment and supply chain opportunities within the Region.

Council was awarded the Australia-ASEAN grant to visit Singapore with representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), CQUniversity and regional businesses.

The delegation will meet with Enterprise Singapore and Surbana Jurong - the largest Asian-based urban and infrastructure consulting firm – and will visit aquaculture sites, Singapore’s main retail centres and seafood processing plants during their week long visit. 

Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow and Councillor Tony Williams will lead the delegation.

Mayor Strelow said Council’s successful submission is a testament to the Advance Rockhampton unit and their concerted efforts to encourage new investment in the Region’s agriculture industry.

“Behind the scenes our Economic Development team is laying the foundations and strengthening our connections with South-East Asia to explore, promote and secure investment opportunities in our Region,” Mayor Strelow said.

“Council established a relationship with Surbana Jurong through a trade mission to Singapore in 2016. The company then reciprocated a visit to our Region earlier this year where we had further opportunity to promote our untapped potential.

“This grant allows us to continue these conversations, and puts us in a position to take advantage of the opportunities that the aquaculture industry can bring to our community, including food security, economic stimulus and jobs.”

Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, said the tour represented money well spent and that it was great to see Council engaging with Singapore.

“Central Queensland has a long-standing relationship with Singapore and it’s certainly very encouraging to see the Rockhampton Regional Council driving an effort to better engage with their strong trading economy.

“It will be reassuring to see opportunities in Singapore develop into jobs on the ground here in CQ and I am sure this trade mission will uncover new and exciting chances at growing the pie for us all.

“This is what it is all about, finding new opportunities in South East Asia that we as a region can take advantage of locally.” Ms Landry said.

Surbana Jurong and Enterprise Singapore are expected to visit Rockhampton in February 2019 where the companies will visit potential aquaculture sites in the Region.

Following their visit, it’s anticipated recommendations for better market development will enable increased access of Queensland’s commodities into Singapore and the broader region.

The $44,000 grant is funded through the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.