Business partner cities tour Southbank

The Southbank precinct was put on display in September as representatives from Asia-Pacific gathered for the Business Partner Cities Roundtable, this year devoted to the business of design.

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre held the official welcome reception where about 120 guests including 40 delegates from 11 cities met for the event.

The annual event, which was held from September 3 to 6, aims to help facilitate stronger links between Melbourne enterprises and business and investment organisations in Asia.

This was the third time Melbourne has hosted the event since joining the Business Partner City Network in 1999 and Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the City of Melbourne was proud to play host.

“We have invited these cities to bring design-oriented businesses with them to create linkages and business opportunities for our city and theirs,” he said.

Not only coinciding with Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, the event was also a celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Melbourne-Osaka sister city relationship.

The Osaka delegation enjoyed a behind the scenes tour of Southbank’s Boyd Community Hub while also meeting with Planning Minister Matthew Guy and Crown representatives.