Our overseas IT factor

Enterprise magazine November 06
Ballarat’s IT credentials have been reinforced in one of the fastest growing economies in the world.  An investment mission to India by the City of Ballarat headed by Mayor David Vendyand chief executive officer Richard Hancock, has ensured those credentials remain front-of-mind for the burgeoning IT sector in India.

In addition to discussions in India, the mission also provided a briefing to the League of Historical Cities secretariat in Kyoto, Japan, in the lead-up to the 10^th World Conference of Historical Cities in Ballarat, held from October 29 to November 1.

Mr Hancock said the investment mission and the briefing were highly successful and continue to build Ballarat’s international reputation as Australia’s premier regional city.

“Our city is also widely regarded as the regional IT capital of Australia with much to offer prospective investors,” Mr Hancock said.

The City of Ballarat is the only Australian council with a memorandum of understanding with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The confederation represents more than 80,000 businesses in one of the world’s largest and rapidly growing economies.

During the visit, Mr Hancock signed a further MOU with the confederation so it can be a “Partner City” at a global summit on small to medium enterprises to be held in New Delhi this month.

“This is a unique opportunity to connect Ballarat businesses with possible partners in India and to promote Ballarat on the world stage once again,” Mr Hancock said.

“Our relationship with CII has been developed through previous investment missions and will be critical in attracting additional investment into Ballarat and to provide opportunities for Ballarat businesses to export their products and services.”

While in India the delegation also met with the Chennai Corporation Commissioner (the equivalent of out city council), M. P. Vivayakumar.

A draft MOU, including a proposal for the City of Ballarat to provide management expertise and training to the corporation, was discussed.

Development of this arrangement is expected to continue during the next six months.

While the mission’s Japan leg mainly related to the discussion in Kyoto about the 10^th World Conference of Historical Cities, the opportunity to develop business prospects for the city was not ignored.

Cr Vendy and Mr Hancock met with executive director of Invest Victoria – Japan, Tim Dillon, and a group of senior Japanese business leaders to promote Ballarat and discuss investment and export opportunities.

The discussions will continue in coming months.

Mr Hancock insists, however, the World Conference’s economic significance and its consideration of heritage issues in a modern city should not be overlooked.

“I think that a city like Ballarat, which is growing , where people are getting and seeing the benefits of that growth, it is probably becoming more complex to explain the relationships between heritage preservation and it being good for the future,” he said.

“But it is important we do that.  We need to explain and highlight that it has the potential to generate investment and jobs over time, as distinct from a development that comes into town tomorrow and immediately creates jobs.

“There’s a complexity that I think is becoming more difficult to get across.

“Broad-based community engagement on heritage, and its social and economic importance, is difficult but it must be pursued.

“This conference will help enormously in that regard.”