A $400 MILLION international wholesale trade centre planned for Wagga appears to be on track, with another high-level delegation from China due to visit the city this month.
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Although dates are not yet confirmed, the Wuai Group delegation is pencilled in to meet NSW premier Barry O'Farrell in Sydney on April 15 and to visit Wagga the next day.
Included in the touring party is Zheng Wei, party secretary of the city of Shenyang where the Wuai Group operates the largest international trade centre in northern China.
The visit will come four months after an initial delegation confirmed Wuai's vision to develop in partnership with other parties a 200,000 square metre trade centre in Wagga that will display goods from around the world.
The project slated for land owned by Wagga City Council on the corner of Kooringal Road and Copland Street could create 2500 long-term jobs after construction.
Wuai’s market in Shenyang employs 60,000 people.
Mayor Rod Kendall and member for Wagga Daryl Maguire yesterday both confirmed this month’s visit, but each stressed the dates were tentative.
Describing the visit as a step forward, Mr Maguire said the purpose of the group coming to Australia was not only to have further talks with council and the state government, but also with potential business partners.
“This project is seen as a two-way relationship,” Mr Maguire said.
“They (the Chinese) are out there actively lobbying to have Australian businesses established in China, as well.”
It is not known if the delegation will arrive with the intention of lodging a development application for the trade centre.
But regardless of that vital step, Councillor Kendall said the visit may engender more confidence that the trade centre will be built.
“Like everything, these things take time to develop,” said Cr Kendall, who revealed he and council had been communicating with Wuai through letters and email.
“I am sure they are working on it (development application), but I am not privy to it; I would not expect to be privy to it.”
Cr Kendall said the mayoral taskforce he established last month to support the project would meet before the delegation arrived.
During his visit to Wagga on November 30, Wang Min – the party secretary of Liaoning Province, of which Shenyang is the capital – said he hoped to see “solid development” of the trade centre within two years.
Mr Maguire yesterday said that while trade centre would be funded by Chinese money it would be an international outlet made available to manufacturers from around the world, including Australia, to showcase their goods.