Page 3543 - Week 11 - Thursday, 23 October 2014
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global terms. Despite these differences in scale, there are important similarities between our cities—most importantly our common focus on excellence in innovation and technology and our commitment to education and the sharing of knowledge. We also share the reputation within our countries of being amongst the most livable cities.
With the relationship formalised by the MOU, businesspeople, officials, universities and others in both cities have a new channel through which to pursue new partnerships. The MOU focuses on exchange and cooperation in technology, innovation and education. It fits very closely with the government’s ambitions under the digital Canberra strategy and study Canberra initiative. It will also present new and exciting opportunities for Canberra to seek to attract investors to some of our key projects.
In the technology sector, I met with Huawei and the Huaqiang Group with the objective of exploring the synergies between Shenzhen and Canberra in the areas of digital city, technology applications and R&D precincts. I discussed potential partnerships, collaboration and commercialisation of innovation and investment opportunities through establishing partnerships with Canberra-based businesses.
We know a number of Canberra-based innovative ICT businesses are on the cutting edge of digital and other high-tech projects and I expect that this deal will help them build and establish themselves in a major overseas market. One opportunity is through better connections with the enormous resources available in companies such as Huawei and ZTE for the commercialisation of those new technologies. Where opportunities present for our best and brightest to excel abroad, we need to encourage it to happen. This invariably leads to new initiatives and benefits on their return.
One initiative both cities agreed to at the signing of this agreement was a Canberra-Shenzhen intern program to facilitate the exchange of some of the best and brightest students of both cities. With financial contributions from both governments, university students will be given the opportunity to study while immersed in the culture of another country, and to refine their work in world-leading research environments. We expect this initiative to build new connections in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. We also know it will create more people-to-people connections and will help to foster long-term friendship through the advocacy of our young people—all vital ambassadors among their peers. As a companion initiative to the study Canberra program, and building on the university exchange announced with Shanghai earlier this year, I look forward to seeing the interest of our student community when the government seeks nominations soon.
As with past delegations, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of influential investors and business leaders at roundtable meetings. I outlined some of the key projects anchoring development in the city in the coming years—in particular, city to the lake and capital metro. I also met with hotel developers and potential investors on investment opportunities that exist in hotel and recreational infrastructure development in Canberra. During these discussions I emphasised the importance of private sector investment to the urban renewal process of Canberra—not only in developments such as residential buildings and retail, but also in flagship public infrastructure projects.
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