It was resolved at last night’s November council meeting that the funds for the $3000 trip are to be taken from the councillors’ travel expenses budget.

The three day trip to Shanghai from November 22 to 24 will entail building agricultural business partnerships, specifically in the farming and primary production sectors.

Councillor Chaffey said the conferences provided many opportunities for investment.

“The possibilities are very exciting,” Cr Chaffey said.

“By attending these types of conferences we can create a more diverse agricultural base.”

Councillor Chaffey said any investment in Gunnedah would be “on our terms.”

“We are open to investments both internationally and domestically that mean more jobs,” he said.

“We are not advocating any selling of land - we are more inviting investors to see the potential our region has (to offer).”

Local citrus farmer Robert Hoddle (pictured with Cr Chaffey) from Gunnible Pastoral will be speaking at the conference about the quality of Australian products.

“We produce quality here in Australia,” Mr Hoddle said.

“There will be importers and government officials at the event and I will be talking about the quality of our products.”

Mr Hoddle said he would be open to investment opportunities at the event.

“We are open to business opportunities,” he said.

“While we can be an expensive country to import from you can’t beat the quality of our product.”