A flying 'corporate box' landed in Broken Hill on Friday, enabling a select group of 'high flyers' from the State's Limestone Coast to promote their region and showcase their businesses to the Silver City.

The passengers were part of a delegation organised by the Mount Gambier-based de Bruin Air to help boost regional development by facilitating unique networking opportunities.

"The day provided an informal platform for networking with business leaders within other regional communities ultimately to create and foster business and social relationships that are of mutual benefit," says de Bruin Group managing director Scott de Bruin.

Broken Hill was selected as the latest destination for de Bruin Air, as part of its novel approach to client entertaining and relationship building.

The passengers who boarded the Jetstream J32 for the 90-minute flight from Mount Gambier were from a diverse range of business backgrounds including farming, hospitality, electronics and information technology, viticulture, sales, media and finance. On arrival, they had a tour of the city and its major attractions hosted by Business Broken Hill, and met with local industry executives and business owners, and the Local Member for Murray Darling, John Williams.

"I was really impressed with the passion the operators demonstrated for their businesses and Broken Hill in general," says Baxter Hire proprietor Peter Burchell. "The organisation called Business Broken Hill is incredibly progressive and constantly working to put the city under the spotlight, and the city is run by an administrator rather than a Council, which is apparently working really well."

Business Broken Hill president, John Groenendijk, says the visit provided a unique opportunity for members to compare notes with another regional centre.

"At the end of the day, we're all facing similar issues, so it's good to be able to talk about it in a relaxed atmosphere, and we're now looking to continue that relationship with future visits which will benefit both economies. Talks are now underway regarding a reciprocal visit to the Limestone Coast, and it's now likely that a Mount Gambier delegation will return to Broken Hill for the Saint Patrick's Day Races in March 2010."

Similar Business Leaders Days designed to more effectively link all parts of South Australia with the rest of the nation have taken place in Hobart, Mildura and Port Lincoln. De Bruin Air says a second visit to Port Lincoln has been scheduled for Friday 13 November 2009, and will feature a ‘close-up' tuna tour with an opportunity to swim with the tuna, the chance to gain an insight into the local aquaculture industry, and lunch at Port Lincoln with local business and civic leaders.

"This is a unique opportunity for business leaders to interact together in a relaxed and novel environment, and we really want to make the ‘networking day out' concept a regular event," says Mr de Bruin. "

Further details regarding the Port Lincoln trip in mid November or other upcoming ‘Business Leaders' networking days to Mildura and Kangaroo Island is available from Travel O'Connor on 08 8725 5332.