UPDATE: Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nick Reece is set to embark on critical international business missions to cities in China, India, and Brazil over the coming months. This urgent agenda comes as the city grapples with a significant debt of $212 million for the financial year 2025-26, prompting the council to scale back some of Reece’s ambitious election promises.
At a meeting of the Future Melbourne Committee scheduled for Tuesday, councillors will seek approval for these high-stakes trips. Reece plans to fly to Rio de Janeiro from November 3 to 5 to participate in the World Mayors Summit and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Forum. This trip will be funded by C40 Cities, though incidental expenses are expected to exceed $1,000.
In a parallel effort, unnamed councillors will lead a “business mission” to India, visiting major cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai from November 16 to 23. This mission will come at a cost of $12,000 for each councillor, covering flights, accommodations, transport, and meals.
Additionally, Councillor Andrew Rowse is set to travel to Shanghai on September 22 and 23 to attend the 2025 World Top-Performing Incubator Forum. This trip will primarily be funded by the forum’s organizers, with an estimated cost to the council of $900.
The council has already approved a prior business mission led by Reece to several cities in China and Japan, including Chengdu, Nanjing, Tianjin, Osaka, and Tokyo. This initiative will cost the city $82,000, or $20,470 per councillor.
These trips are viewed as crucial for fostering international business relationships and attracting investment to Melbourne. As the council faces financial constraints, the success of these missions could significantly impact the city’s economic recovery and growth. The urgency of these developments underscores the importance of strategic global engagement, especially in times of fiscal challenges.
Reece and the councillors are aiming to create opportunities that could directly benefit Melbourne’s economy and its residents. As these plans unfold, the city will be closely watching the outcomes of these business missions and their potential to revive local initiatives that have been put on hold.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
