Newcastle Airport won't say how much it will spend on sending a 20-person delegation to Singapore, but says the investment will bring substantial economic benefits to the Hunter.
The delegation, which includes representatives from the airport, Business Hunter, Committee for the Hunter, the University of Newcastle, tourism and regional industry along with the mayors of Newcastle and Port Stephens, will leave on Sunday for a six-day visit to the Asian hub.
The delegates are due to meet businesses, investors and key stakeholders and present a "united proposition for the Hunter".
The airport, jointly owned by Newcastle and Port Stephens councils, confirmed it would fund the majority of the mission costs and coordinate the delegation.
Individual delegates would generally cover their own flights and accommodation, while the airport would cover the participation of a number of invited individuals.
A number of unnamed regional partners were also supporting specific elements of the program.
Questions about the cost of the trip follow a Newcastle Herald investigation into the airport's financial stability and management.
An airport spokeswoman said the mission was part of the airport's work to enhance international connectivity for the region.
"We are continuing discussions about direct international services and using this mission to demonstrate the scale of the Hunter economy, the strength of regional demand and the opportunity for stronger connections with Singapore and Asian markets," she said.
Airport data shows about 500,000 passengers annually travel to and from the Hunter to Singapore and beyond.
The spokeswoman said it was unclear how many Singaporeans visited the Hunter, as they tended to visit the region on day trips from Sydney, possibly due to lack of direct flights from Singapore to the Hunter.
"The mission provides us the opportunity of following up on some recent conversations that arose from the launch of our Singapore via Bali route launch," the spokeswoman said.
"It also gives us the chance to improve how we assist the region to sell itself to international markets, such as Singapore - not just for tourism, but for trade and inbound investment."
The co-owner and director of the industrial innovation accelerator, The Melt, Brett Thomas, said the Hunter Region was rapidly proving itself as a premier destination for advanced manufacturing and clean tech investment.
"At The Melt, we see firsthand the immense potential of local scale-ups to solve global challenges and attract international capital," Mr Thomas said.
"Establishing direct flight paths between Newcastle and Singapore would be a game-changer for our innovation ecosystem. Direct connectivity dramatically accelerates supply chain timelines and opens seamless access to Asian markets and global investors, positioning the Hunter as a true hub for international trade."
Newcastle lord mayor Gavin Morris said significant opportunities existed for Newcastle and the Hunter in Singapore.
"My job as lord mayor is making sure we're in the room when those opportunities are being discussed," Cr Morris said.
"Singaporean leaders have told us they want to deal with the Hunter as a region, with one strong, coordinated voice. So our mission is simple: we're going there to sell the Hunter, together."
