PARRAMATTA business representatives will play an integral part in the development and implementation of the next five-year economic development strategy for the city. “The purpose of business engagement in economic development is to ensure the business community have a role in shaping and reviewing the economic development strategy for the local government area,” said a report to Parramatta City Council. With the impending conclusion of the current economic development strategy, council officers have commenced the preparation of the 2017-2022 document. The report to council outlined a suggested three-phase process of engagement with the business community in its preparation and implementation. “At a basic level, there are three types of business engagement – general business engagement, project-specific business engagement and strategic business engagement,” the report said. Council has deferred consideration of the report so that further work could be undertaken.