THE delegation planning to visit Cirencester next month has had to postpone its trip due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Bathurst has shared a sister city relationship with Cirencester over the last few years, with the trip intended to occur to formally endorse the friendship agreement.
A five-day program was designed and was going to include meetings with Cirencester Town Council and businesses.
Around a dozen representatives from Bathurst Regional Council, the business community and the education sector were going to make up the delegation.
But, with the health crisis ruling out international travel, there was no option but to postpone the trip until the situation has improved.
Bathurst Business Chamber president Catherine Fitzsimons said there was every intention of rescheduling the trip.
"It's a very important visit and at this stage it has only been postponed. It has not been cancelled, it definitely will be happening and the plan at this stage is for October," she said.
Bathurst council general manager David Sherley explained the benefit of the sister city relationship with Cirencester.
"The initiative aims to promote awareness, communication and opportunities for the people and organisations of our two regional communities based on friendship, commerce, education, sport and tourism," he said.
The business chamber also sees the value in the relationship and Ms Fitzsimons said members are committed to maintaining it.
"The sister city program is just one small way that we can all work for world peace, bring the world together and make it a smaller place," she said.
"On an economic level, though, the sister city program is something that allows us to have connections with a couple of places around the globe that are similar to us in size, where we've got an entrée into another country and into its markets, with the support of the businesses that are in our sister city."