Last post I mentioned how Hutt City is using its international relations to not only encourage global tolerance and all the niceties of sister cities and other global associations but to develop economic benefits for the city. We are doing far more than that really by looking at the relationships which other cities have which we can leverage.
Neighbouring cities
On our next planned mission to Japan and Korea we have invited businesses from our neighbouring cities. We have asked local Chambers of Commerce to promote our April 2011 mission to their members. These businesses can add a diversity to the group travelling and represent a market that perhaps is not catered for in our own city or complement one that is.
Another benefit is being able to explain to our Japanese and Korean hosts that we are from a geographical area that is far greater in land and population than we otherwise would represent on our own. You know and I know that while we come from a small city in a small country we do compete at the highest level. But being able to say that this group of businesses is from an area of 400,000 people gets less snickers than saying we're from a city of 100,000.
Other cities and their international relations
We encourage any of our city's businesses to look beyond the relationships that we have through council which currently extend to Japan, Korea, China and USA But if you start looking at the relationships of other cities throughout New Zealand you could cover half the globe with qualified contacts at a government level.
No need to stop there. Companies could try and capitalise on the other relationships of the cities Hutt City has relationships with and it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to work on Australian city relationships too.
Sort of a social media network arrangement; old school style.
Expat networks
This is something I think we can make greater use of and I would like to introduce this to businesses. Kea New Zealand have an extensive network of New Zealanders who are currently working in cities around the world. I have heard Ross McConnell, their executive director speak at an economic development conference and I was taken by what Kea are doing.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had success in working through expat networks and I will pass on the same once we've been down that road.
David Hancock is the visitor development manager for Hutt City, Wellington, New Zealand and would be delighted to receive comments on this or any other topic.
http://www.huttvalleynz.com/
http://www.facebook.com/HuttCity.Wellington
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