BREAKING: Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece and city councillors are set to embark on crucial overseas business missions to China, India, and Brazil in the coming months. These trips come as the council grapples with a significant debt of $212 million for the 2025-26 financial year, prompting the postponement of several ambitious election promises.
During a Future Melbourne Committee meeting on Tuesday, Reece sought approval for these international ventures. His first destination is Rio de Janeiro, where he will attend the World Mayors Summit and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Forum from November 3 to 5. This trip, funded by C40 Cities, excludes anticipated incidental expenses of less than $1,000.
In an exciting expansion of Melbourne’s global presence, unnamed councillors will lead a business mission to India, visiting Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai from November 16 to 23. The estimated cost for each councillor is $12,000, covering flights, accommodation, transportation, and meals.
Additionally, Councillor Andrew Rowse is set to travel to Shanghai on September 22-23 to participate in the 2025 World Top-Performing Incubator Forum. While the trip will be primarily funded by the forum organizers, it will still incur a cost of approximately $900 to the council.
The council has also approved Reece’s previous business mission to China and Japan, which includes cities like Chengdu, Nanjing, Tianjin, Osaka, and Tokyo. This mission carries a budget of $82,000, or roughly $20,470 for each participating councillor, including Kevin Louey, Philip Le Liu, and Gladys Liu.
These trips are crucial for strengthening Melbourne’s international ties and boosting the local economy amid financial challenges. As Reece and his team prepare for these global engagements, the impact on Melbourne’s future economic landscape could be significant. Stay tuned for more updates as these missions unfold.
