Geelong is unique, regional powerhouse, with diverse industries driving sustained growth.

The region also offers a great lifestyle, an amazing natural environment, world-class education and fantastic infrastructure with an international airport and seaport, major road connectors and both passenger and freight rail links, which is very attractive for international businesses and visitors.

The City of Greater Geelong extends an invitation to national and international delegations interested in exploring our vibrant city and fostering collaborations aligned with our innovative pursuits. We prioritise visits aimed at cultivating strategic partnerships and exploring potential business opportunities.

To organise an official visit to the City of Greater Geelong (The City), please complete the online form at least six weeks before your proposed visit.

Geelong - City of Design

The City of Greater Geelong applied to become a UNESCO Creative Cities Network City of Design in 2017 and was successful in its designation.

Geelong is Australia's first, and only, City of Design and joins an international network of 300 cities committed to the power of creativity and innovation in building sustainable cities.

It's about collaboration, culture, planning, people and prosperity - working together for a clever and creative future for all.

The City of Design designation is about using creativity and innovation to build more sustainable, resilient and inclusive communities. It fits perfectly with our 30-year, community-led vision to be internationally recognised as a clever and creative city-region.

Read more about UNESCO Geelong - City of Design.

Lianyungang, China

Lianyungang is a Chinese city located in the Jiangsu province northeast of the country. The city, like Geelong, is located on a main port line which links the eastern sea routes with the western land routes. Suitably, the city is dubbed as China's 'East-West Freight Corridor'.

Lianyungang has a history in farming and agriculture, while its future is increasingly in green agriculture and organic produce.

New industry sectors being developed are in healthcare, new materials and energy, with its location as a transport hub enabling logistics to thrive.

In 2016, the Director Investment and Attraction, Brett Luxford journeyed to Lianyungang as part of the Victorian government's regional cities delegation. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen ties with Lianyungang, and increase trade and investment beneficial to both regions.

In 2025, a Lianyungang Municipal Council delegation led by Mr. Ma Shiguang, Secretary of Lianyungang Municipal Committee of CPC and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Lianyungang Municipal People's Congress, visited the City of Greater Geelong. The visit was celebrated with a cultural book exchange and formal meeting. 

Student exchange programs are among the new initiatives being explored to strengthen the connection and deliver great outcomes for the two cities.

Izumiotsu City, Osaka Japan

Izumiotsu is located in the southern part of Osaka Prefecture, with Osaka Bay to the northwest.

An agreement was established in 1990 – 1991, following a visit of a delegation to Geelong.  Izumiotsu at the time, had a number of manufacturing industries specialising in woollen blankets.  Much of the wool used in their manufacturing process was purchased through the Geelong wool sales, sourced from locally grown wool, hence the link.

The purpose was to establish trade and cultural links, for the mutual benefit of both Geelong & Izumiotsu.  In April 1992, the then Mayor of former City of Geelong visited Izumiotsu accompanied with representatives from Bellarine Rural City Council and students at The Geelong College.

North Geelong Secondary College has an ongoing school student exchange program with schools in Izumiotsu, and the Consul General of Japan in Melbourne Furuya Tokuro has visited Geelong to meet with students, visit the Council and meet delegates.

Mayor of Izumiotsu Kenichi Minamide and representatives of Izumiotsu City visited Geelong in January 2026, meeting with Mayor Cr Dr Stretch Kontelj OAM and CEO Ali Wastie, and touring GeelongPort, The Geelong Gallery and The National Wool Museum. 

Viqueque, Timor-Leste

In 2000, Abel Guterres visited Geelong and encouraged Christian College Geelong and the City of Greater Geelong to engage with the Viqueque community.

After the City formally ratified an agreement to establish a community-to-community partnership with Viqueque, the partnership was launched on 3 November 2000 in Geelong by Sir William Deane, the then Governor-General.  

Community groups including AETA, Geelong branch, the Geelong Catholic Social Justice Committee, Amnesty International and Oxfam CAA, were asked by the City to form the Geelong-East Timor Friendship Committee (later Geelong Friends of Viqueque) to link with Viqueque.  

The first meeting was held in February 2002, just prior to East Timor becoming an independent nation on 20 May 2002.  The City signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the District of Viqueque in April 2004, and a Municipal Cooperation Agreement within the partnership between Local Government Victoria and the Ministry of State Administration in 2016.

Geelong-Viqueque Friendship Schools (GVFS) was established in 2006 and the work of GVFS and students from across Greater Geelong has resulted in establishing four functioning libraries with funded librarians, a Science laboratory with funded lab technician and friendships between Australian and Timorese teachers and students over 19 years.  

Changwon City, Korea

In April 2022, Greater Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan and Changwon City Mayor Huh Sungmoo signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) connecting the cities.

The memorandum formalises an agreement to collaborate with Changwon City on trade, education, and cultural exchanges, to promote investment and employment opportunities for the two cities.

This MOU aligns with the Geelong community’s 30-year vision to be internationally recognised as a ‘clever and creative’ city with a prosperous economy, which supports jobs and education opportunities. Located on South Korea’s southeast coast, Changwon City is a known industrial and manufacturing hub that is home to global manufacturers including Hanwha Corporation and its subsidiary Hanwha Defence Australia.

Representatives of Changwon City Council visited the City of Greater Geelong in 2025 to meet with Mayor Cr Dr Stretch Kontelj and tour the City.

Relations with South Korea have also strengthened through sport, advanced manufacturing and broader government relations.

KT Wiz Baseball Club has visited Geelong in 2025 and 2026 for its summer training camps, delivering significant economic benefit for the region, and resulting in City investment in Geelong Baseball Centre, to improve diamonds and practice facilities for both international and local clubs.

Geelong also gained publicity in Korean media in late 2025 about its transformation from Ford's closure to today's growth in advanced manufacturing following a journalist's visit to Geelong, with interviews across the City of Greater Geelong.

The positive media coverage led to a Korean government delegation to Geelong to learn more about collaboration across three levels of government, process and policy that supported the transformation and progress.

India

The City of Greater Geelong signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australia India Business Council in 2025.  The agreement followed a Geelong India Roundtable hosted by the City which identified new opportunities for Geelong-India relations, business, industry, tourism and community.  

A Geelong India Collaborative Futures Forum in March 2026 is an initiative to connect leaders, businesses and entrepreneurs across priority sectors, while showcasing Geelong as the place to live, learn and do business.

State support

Contact Regional Development Victoria for advice to set up your business to export or import on 03 5215 6000 or email ([email protected]).

Trade Victoria helps connect Victorian exporters with international buyers and business leaders. They can support businesses through providing economic intelligence and data, and guidance on trends overseas. Contact Global Victoria on 03 9651 9248.

Export grants

There are a range of federal government grants which can assist regional businesses take their products and services offshore. Visit the Australian government's website for more information.