This week we have seen no fewer than six of the world’s most powerful leaders arrive in Sydney. This was a huge coup for New South Wales and reflected the level of interest – and confidence – the global community has in our triple-A-rated economy and infrastructure plan.
First to arrive was British Prime Minister David Cameron, who dropped in on his way to the G20 Global Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane.
I met with Mr Cameron at the Barangaroo Delivery Authority where we discussed our infrastructure plans while overlooking the Barangaroo construction site. Barangaroo is expected to cement Sydney’s reputation as a global financial centre and is already being compared to London’s Canary Wharf.
The Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi showed an interest in inspecting construction on the North West Rail Link. Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian and I showed Mr Renzi around the site of the new Kellyville Station, the site of the landmark $340 million skytrain, which is being delivered by Italian-based consortium Salini Impregilo.
It’s great to see work well underway on the skytrain project, which is already supporting more than 170 local jobs, with another 75 workers to be recruited as construction ramps up over the coming months. It’s full steam ahead on the North West Rail Link and the community couldn’t be happier that after 16 years of Labor’s broken promises, this Government is getting on with the job of building a state-of-the-art rapid transit network.
I then had the pleasure of meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is arguably the world’s most popular politician and became the first Indian leader to visit Australia in 28 years. I met Mr Modi at a reception held for the Indian community of Australia at Sydney Olympic Park, which was attended by thousands of Indian Australians.
The sheer number of people who have turned out to hear Mr Modi speak is a testament to his popularity and the belief and expectation the global Indian community has in him. A similar event held at Madison Square Garden in New York in September was attended by about 19,000 people and the Sydney event attracted similar numbers. During the visit I committed to visiting India in 2015, after receiving an invitation from Mr Modi.
I also met briefly with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, and last but not least, Chinese President Xi Jinping, the leader of our largest trading partner.
I took the opportunity to personally thank President Xi for overseeing the outcome of a new Free Trade Agreement between Australia and China, and announcing Sydney had received the all clear to become an offshore settlement hub for the Chinese currency, the Renminbi. The NSW Government had been a major driver behind the push for Sydney to become a Renminbi settlement hub and the development will make it easier for Australian firms to move funds and do business with China, and the announcement reflects the growing friendship between NSW and China over the past three years. I announced the NSW Government’s Sydney for Renminbi initiative at a financial services roundtable while in Shanghai, which was designed specifically to promote Sydney as the natural home for an Australian RMB trading hub. I’m proud this has now been achieved.
It was a whirlwind week for NSW, but was a great opportunity to show off our great State to the world.
Published in The Indian Sun, Sydney
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