They say friends are the family you choose.
Last week I had the privilege of welcoming family back to the City of Logan – a delegation from our sister city, Taoyuan City in Taiwan.
The City of Logan is one of the most culturally diverse regions in Australia. Our multicultural tapestry is made up of more than 217 different cultural backgrounds, speaking more than 50 languages. Our cultural ties are strong and it’s an accolade we wear proudly.
Council developed its first international relations program in 1995. Since then that program has created exchange opportunities for residents, schools and businesses.
As one our first sister cities, we have an incredible and long-standing relationship with Taoyuan City, now in its 27th year. In those 27 years, our respective cities have changed significantly. It shows great strength of this relationship that our connections have continued to deepen.
The delegation from Taoyuan City is significant for the City of Logan. The 52-person delegation is the first international visit from a sister city since Covid closed our international borders in 2020.
It is also the first outbound delegation to Australia from Taiwan. The delegation includes a student tour delegation (27 people) and a professional visits delegation (25 people).
The student component will spend time at both Marsden and Loganlea state high schools. The students will have the unique opportunity to experience school life and cultural activities at both schools.
The professional component of the delegation will be provided with the opportunity to acquire new skills and knowledge with a customised program to meet the specific needs of the group.
Taiwan’s population of 23.5 million people is similar to that of Australia, and they are an important trading partner for Australia. Continuing to foster these ongoing sister city relationships is important for Logan. It promotes business opportunities and economic cooperation between both cities.
It also opens the possibility of exchanges and investment in a wide range of industries including, but not limited to, education, property development, tourism, manufacturing, health and aged care and urban planning.
