Access Hong Kong adds next step to region's business links with Asia

CREEVEY Russell Lawyers partner Damian Bell is joining Access Hong Kong, knowing that doing business in Asia is as much about the customs as it is the deal itself.

Having travelled to Asia before, Mr Bell said he was joining the trip to take the next step in maintaining those established relationships.

“If you’re going to interact with Asian clients, you need to understand the customs, the business style and the way things work. Unless you’ve seen it and been a part of it yourself, you probably won’t get the full experience,” he said.

“It’s a market you need to keep in contact with. It’s dynamic and it changes very quickly, so you need to make sure you put your boots back on the ground and check in regularly.”

Mr Bell joined AccessChina, the historic delegation led by TSBE and FLA in 2016.

He said this year’s trip was a great opportunity to reconnect with the group, meet new people and get a sense of what is available.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio said weekly direct freight flights to Hong Kong made this trip the optimal time to develop trade relationships and tap into Asian opportunities.

“I think it’s a journey we all should be very interested in, to make sure that we do the best we can, to trade with that part of Asia,” Cr Antonio said.

AccessChina’16 generated up to $350million for regional businesses, and Cr Antonio said Hong Kong presented greater opportunities to expand and solidify links between Toowoomba and Asia.

TSBE executive chairman Shane Charles said businesses should get behind the trip, with Access Hong Kong leaving Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport on September 3.

“Access Hong Kong is based around the theme of agriculture and innovation, and we’ve locked in a range of site tours, from waste-to-energy sites with T-Park, to the global horticulture convention Asia Fruit Logistica,” he said.

Hutchinson Builders’ Danny Charlesworth said he was joining the trip for the extensive networking opportunity, and to explore how construction was managed in Asia.

“We had several clients and colleagues that raved about how good the (AccessChina’16) trip was and we decided that we should probably get on board,” he said.

Accession3 Business Services’ Allan Vickers joined AccessChina’16 and is returning on Access Hong Kong.

He said he was amazed at the future vision and innovation shown on the Darling Downs.

“The ideas they have, the technology they’re bringing into agriculture and the size and scale of what they’re dreaming of is mind blowing – it’s a fabulous event and it really does change your perspective on where Toowoomba, the Darling Downs and Australian agriculture is going,” he said.

Wellcamp Airport’s John Wagner said Access Hong Kong was “unmissable”.

“There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that happens to take an international passenger flight out of Wellcamp Airport. You’ve got all the border agencies, immigration and customs, but it’s all doable and we proved that last year,” Mr Wagner said.

The Qantas B747-400 will mark the largest international passenger flight to leave Wellcamp Airport, subject to government and regulatory approvals.

As well as the milestone delegation, jet-setters and holiday-makers can join the flight, with one-way tickets from Toowoomba to Hong Kong starting at $650.

Tickets for Access Hong Kong close July 31. Visit www.tsbe.com.au/AccessHongKong