Travelling between Munich and Berlin on a fast train, Ms Berejiklian indicated faster rail would be built in NSW by the private sector. "This is an example of where the private sector has invested quite a bit of their money and they are making profits, but at the same time people are getting a faster rail service, so there are those options we can look at as well," she said. Companies from around the world are beating down our doors NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian But the Premier said while her focus has previously been on delivering transport and infrastructure, she now wants to work to ensure thousands of jobs were created at Badgerys Creek. "Like a lot of the transport projects I started when I was transport minister are bearing fruit now, the deals we are doing now will bear fruit in five to 10 years," Ms Berejiklian told the Herald.

"So there’s a common theme of setting the state up for the future because a lot of the deals I am doing now are critical and are diversifying the economy and will bring thousands of jobs. "It won’t happen tomorrow, but unless I do the deals now, they won’t happen." Ms Berejiklian’s trade mission has seen her sign agreements with international companies including GE Additive, a world leader in 3D printing and global defence giant BAE Systems. One of the agreements is also with the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, which will establish a world-class advanced manufacturing centre at Badgerys Creek. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has visions of fast trains in NSW, just like the ones in Germany. Credit:AP, supplied

The research centre is built on an old coking site and has been credited with breathing new life into Sheffield as the city faced a spiral of industrial decline. The centre’s founder Keith Ridgway said he was keen to help the NSW government establish the aerotropolis as a modern research and skills hub. "It’s truly an honour that our economic and social experiment in Sheffield and Rotherham has attracted the attention of such a dynamic and ambitious government on the other side of the world," Professor Ridgway said. The government has committed to creating 200,000 jobs at the aerotropolis, with a significant proportion to be located within 30 minutes of where workers live. Ms Berejiklian said she was "absolutely overwhelmed" by the interest in the airport city.

Loading "I know our pitch is right and I know the concept is right and the vision is right because I have been overwhelmed with interest," she said. "We are in a great position where we are being choosy and we are going for the world’s best ... Companies from around the world are beating down our doors." Ms Berejiklian said she also planned to seize on opportunities in the UK post-Brexit and was the first Australian leader to meet Britain’s Trade Secretary Liz Truss in London. "I am here to pounce," Ms Berejiklian said.