After a brief stopover at the Visitor Centre, which held information on the operations of the harbour port in Brisbane, its business partners and countries of importation, chamber participants climbed on board a mini-bus which took them on site.

The guided tour provided an educational and interactive experience for the group of Italo-Australians who participated.

During the visit, the importance of the port for both the city of Brisbane and the entire state of Queensland was confirmed.

The structure manages around $50 billion of international commerce per year, with 8200 metres of wharf, 30 docking places available, and 693 hectares of green spaces in anticipation of a future expansion as Brisbane’s population is expected to increase over the next 10 years, to reach five million people.

The port operates in an area of significant importance, close to Moreton Bay and at the mouth of the Brisbane River.

Its operations are sustained by a system of environmental management which accredits the port and guarantees its strong participation in environmental responsibility, while maintaining a sustainable commercial growth.

Throughout the visit, different structures were observed including the temporary cruise ship terminal.

The port is currently constructing the Brisbane International Cruise Ship Terminal, which will be finalised in 2020.

This will be the first port in the south-east of the state equipped to accommodate some of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

Currently, the cruise ships share the basin of the port of Brisbane, where dredging has allowed the biggest ships to navigate.

During the visit, agricultural and motor machines were observed, which are destined for Sydney and Melbourne, alongside the new generation of trains which will be delivered to the city of Brisbane.

Much curiosity was expressed toward a ship which had been docked for some days in wait for more convenient meteorological conditions.

It had on board a selection of cranes each with differing destinations.

The cranes, which are moved using algorithmic controls, are used to sort through goods in boxes which are then loaded onto trucks.

This is the result of Australian innovation which, alongside the European system, guarantees successful operations.

The visitors returned to the starting point of their visit, where they gathered for a toast with an aperitivo italiano and listened to a speech by the president of ICCI QLD, Santo Santoro.

During the speech, members of the council of administration of the chamber were presented to the event, and the president took the opportunity to thank Salvatore Gerbino, who organised the excellent catered refreshments.

Santoro then thanked the staff of the chamber, from the general secretary Federica Marinatto, to the trainees Beatrice Bottazzi and Beatrice Rahnev, for their big help in running and preparing chamber operations.

Santoro then thanked the hospitality of the delegated administrator of the Port of Brisbane, Peter Keyte - also a member of the chamber’s CDA - who welcomed the guests with a thank you and important news on the port’s value for both community and economy, being one of the principal motors for economic prosperity in the city.

Indeed, it is the biggest port for its diversity in merchandise, terrain, aquatic area and number of ships docked.

The port holds a strong environmental awareness as well as investors of great support, and constructs continually infrastructure and streets, making its works a priority for people, community and commerce.

Keyte then remarked on the mission of the port and its contribution to commercial growth and concluded by wishing the participants a pleasant evening.

The evening was concluded with a lottery draw and the distribution of bottles of wine, which were kindly provided by the sponsors.