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Last Updated: Friday, 15 September 2023 13:12

Published: Friday, 15 September 2023 13:08

The 2023 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is proving the perfect backdrop to entertain, educate and strengthen economic and cultural links with visiting delegations from the Republic of Korea and Singapore.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said he was pleased to welcome the international guests to the Region following the absences caused by pandemic-related international travel restrictions.

“It is an honour to welcome elected representatives and senior executives from our Republic of Korea Sister City, Paju City Council, headed by Vice Mayor of Paju City Mr Jin-ki Kim, along with performers and support staff with the Paju Performance Group,” Mayor McDonald said.

“Unfortunately, Paju City Mayor Kyung-Il Kim is required to complete other city business at home and will be represented by Vice Mayor Jin-ki Kim and the rest of the contingent.

“Apart from enjoying the splendours in our civic parks and competition home gardens during the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, the Paju delegation will discuss business opportunities with members of Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE).

“The party will visit the Toowoomba premises of CJ NutraCon, an advanced food manufacturing business that specialises in beef extracts and related products. (CJ NutraCon is a subsidiary of Korea’s CheilJedang Corporation)

“Our Paju visitors will meet counterparts at the University of Southern Queensland to discuss the resumption of the popular English and Culture Study Tour program that was ceased by covid. It is pleasing to see the exchange program will resume with a visit by Paju students in January 2024.

“The Paju Performance Group, which was established in 2008, will perform at Laurel Bank Park, the Queens Park Botanic Gardens and also feature in the Grand Central Floral Parade on September 16.”

Mayor McDonald said in October 2002 Toowoomba and Paju signed an Economic Sister City Agreement to promote international relations and enhance and develop economic cooperation between the two cities.
Adding to the international mix will be a visit by representatives from Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay nature park, who will visit Carnival attractions and discuss the potential for establishing more tourism links and business dealings.

“The visit is a chance for Gardens by the Bay representatives to discuss Carnival’s civic garden and event preparations with Council staff and wider promotion activities with TSBE and Southern Queensland Country Tourism,” Mayor McDonald said.

“I’m positive that our Region can attract more international visitors to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and build on other trade and tourism opportunities that we can develop with our foreign guests.

“Carnival is a special time of year when our community shows off the Region’s spring bounty and shares these treats with national and international visitors. It is a great chance for our special links to blossom and look to many more positive dealings.”

Paju City Council delegation: Vice Mayor of Paju City Mr Jin-ki Kim; Vice Chair of Paju City Council Ms Hui-jeong Yoon; Councillor and chair of the Urban Industry Committee Ms Eun-joo Park; Director General of Finance and Economy Bureau Mr Young-jun Kim; Leader International Exchanges and Cooperation Team Ms Hyun-ju Lim; International Exchanges and Cooperation Team Ms Moon Young Jang.

Paju Performance Group members: Ms Eun-ju Kim; Ms Min-ah Hyun; Ms Shin-young Park; Ms Hyun-jung An; Ms Yun Ja Kang (makeup artist) and Leader Arts Team, Culture and Arts Division Ms Sun-hee Kang.

Secretary General, Paju branch of the Federation of Artistic and Culture Organisation of Korea Mr Du-won Jeong and Director, Paju branch of the Korea Dance Association Ms Eun-hee Kim.

Performance locations, times:
• Friday, September 15 from 1.15-1.45pm at the Queens Park Botanic Gardens,
• Saturday, September 16, as part of the Grand Central Floral Parade from 10am.

A display of traditional Korean craft items is on display at the Highfields Pioneer Village. A formal civic reception dinner is being held tonight. (September 15)

Singapore delegation:
• Mr Mihkaail Ng - Senior Assistant Director, Conservatory Operations
• Ms Janice Loh - Senior Assistant Director, Conservatory Operations
• Ms Grace Yang - Senior Manager, Conservatory Operations

Caption: Top: Artists Mali Moir (left) and Ben Beeton; TSBE General Manager Food Leaders’ Australia Justin Heaven; Singapore delegation members Mihkaail Ng, Janice Loh, Grace Yang; Southern Queensland Country Tourism CEO Peter Homan; Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald; Toowoomba Regional Council’s Environment and Community Services Committee chair Cr James O’Shea; TSBE CEO Greg Bowden and TRC’s Coordinator – Events Kate Scott enjoying the colour in Toowoomba’s Queens Park Botanic Gardens.
Centre: A member of the Paju Performance Group.