On June 17th, Michael Gerard Neville who participated in the 22nd HTF accepted an exclusive interview with dbw.

Michael Neville said it was 6 years since Griffith and Harbin built sister cities; during the 6 years, it has effective communications on the aspect of education. During the visit to the Harbin Trade Fair, he hoped to widen communications and co-operations between the two cities, from education areas to commercial areas.
Strengthen co-operations on water-saving irrigation

Griffith lies in New South Wales and has a population of 26,000; with an area of around 1,600 square kilometers. Michael Neville expressed that Griffith had rich agricultural resources such as Heilongjiang Province. There’s drought and less rain in the two places so the two sides should strengthen co-operations on water-saving irrigation.

“It’s not to say the most advanced is the most scientific. Sometimes it is simpler, the more scientific.” Michael Neville said. Crop irrigation of Griffith is mainly the multistep irrigation. The water is generally irrigated from up to down and is recycled and reused. The system was constructed by the state government 100 years ago and is still widely used now.

Explore co-operation in various fields

The power of the manufacturing industry of Griffith is abundant. Many food processing enterprises have international advanced technology. Therefore, it is at the forefront of agricultural development.

When talking about the purpose of this Harbin Trade Fair, Michael Neville said species of green food in Heilongjiang Province was rich while sweet oranges, grapes, sweet corns grown in Australia were also green agricultural crops. He hoped to co-operate with Heilongjiang enterprises on the deep processing of sweet oranges and sweet corns. Meanwhile, he welcomed Heilongjiang enterprises to seek business opportunities in Griffith. It is believed that co-operation in various fields will become wider through more communications.

Huge changes of The Sun Island in 10 years

This is the second time for Michael Neville to take part in the HTF. When he recalled the situation coming to Harbin for the first time, he said The Sun Island at that time was an idea in a planning chart and now it had become an important scenic spot. Many changes were taking place in Harbin. Thanks to the Harbin Trade Fair which gives him the chance to come here for the second time.

“Harbin Trade Fair is like a big party to collect many brilliant enterprises around the world. It promotes understanding in economics and culture. Thanks to the Harbin Trade Fair, it offers a communication platform for merchants from home and abroad and shortens the distance among people.” Michael Neville said.