Chinese eye Wagga as major export hub

CHINESE entrepreneurs are eyeing off Wagga as the possible location for a major distribution hub for Chinese-manufactured goods.

At the same time, Member for Wagga Daryl Maguire is working hard to secure shelf space on a soon-to-be-opened store in China that will stock exclusively Riverina products.

The preliminary announcements come after Mr Maguire and a team travelled to China last month on a fact-finding mission.

"If you're getting a good product (on the shelf), you're dealing with an increasingly affluent people," he said.

Mr Maguire expected products like olives, wine, olive oil and some meats to sell in what he called the "cottage industry".

"They're all competing with each other in a small market (in Australia) ... this would open up another 1.3 billion people."

Mr Maguire expects an interactive website will be created in the coming months where businesses that wish to export goods can register their interest.

Wagga deputy mayor Alan Brown also attended the tour and has announced hopes for a manufacturing showroom displaying Chinese-manufactured goods.

The plan is for any number of goods to be shipped to Wagga and then transported around Australia - opening up a cheap and abundant supply of goods.

"We have a tremendous trade imbalance with China," Councillor Brown said. "There would be a lot of transport and a lot of building all by Australians."

Wagga mayor Wayne Geale yesterday welcomed the prospects.

"I think either one of those things would be a great thing for the Riverina," he said.