City of Belleville delegation in South Korea. (Photo: submitted)
The delegation to Gunpo, South Korea from Belleville has returned and are still getting over jet lag.
Speaking about the trip to Belleville’s twin city on CJBQ’s Lorne Brooker Show today (Tuesday), Chris King of the Quinte Economic Development Commission said there was a lot more focus on business during this trip than others he’s been on in the past.
King says South Koreans do business differently.
Meanwhile, Mayor Mitch Panciuk said the delegation met with business and community leaders in Gunpo, stressing that meeting face to face regularly was only good business.
Asked about those who consider such trips a waste of taxpayer dollars the mayor pointed to Hanon Systems, formerly Halla Climate Control, which has two plants in Belleville.
The South Korean company opened in Belleville 30 years ago as a result of personal contact and has made the city a much better place.
Mayor Panciuk added that there will always be people who don’t want the city to do anything but look after roads, water and sewer but most people recognize the need
to have a presence in other locales to grow the community.
The mayor said the delegation was treated royally by “very, very nice people” and council and city staff have begun plans to return the hospitality when a delegation from Gunpo arrives in Belleville sometime next year.
There have been several exchange trips between the two cities since the late 1990s.
