Taxpayers will foot the bill for the 206 "VIP" buyers, investors and business leaders from 19 different countries to spend a week in Melbourne from March 11 to 18.

According to documents obtained by Fairfax Media, the VIP delegates "will be hosted by the Victorian Government during their stay and receive personalised programs that include business matching meetings, site visits, networking events and attendance at hallmark Melbourne events".

Those "hallmark events" include the Australian Grand Prix, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and Melbourne Fashion Festival.

More than half of the VIP visitors will come from China, which has 104 delegates in total. The large Chinese representation reflects the country's emergence as Victoria's largest two-way trade partner, now worth $18.9 billion a year.

Of Victoria's $37.5 billion of annual exports, more than $4.5 billion goes to China, including $2.7 billion of food and fibre. China is the top destination for Victorian food and beverage exports, and supplies almost 50,000 student enrolments, more than a quarter of all international students in Victoria.

The trade visit, dubbed a "multi-sector super inbound mission" by the state government's spin doctors, will be unveiled by Premier Daniel Andrews at a lunch at the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) on Tuesday.

The Andrews Government claims to have reversed the policy of the previous government, which predominantly funded Victorian business leaders, bureaucrats and politicians to travel overseas.

In the last three years of the Baillieu and Napthine governments, Victorian taxpayers paid for more than 2000 individuals, mostly from food and beverage companies, to visit Asia on 65 separate trade missions.

"I can sum up the inbound trade mission in three words: jobs, jobs, jobs," said Premier Andrews. "By bringing investors to our doorstep, we can show them the very best of what Victoria has to offer, like our strong economy and our talented multicultural workforce."

Most the delegates will be here to visit Victoria's agriculture, international education and professional services industries. The automotive industry, energy technology, medical technology, construction and defence technology round out the areas of focus.

A key focus area will be Victoria's embattled manufacturing sector, which is reeling from the decisions of Ford, Holden and Toyota to stop making cars in Australia.

According to data released by the Victorian government, cars remain the state's second-biggest source of export income, worth $1.34 billion a year.

That ranks just behind milk ($1.38 billion) and ahead of wool ($1.32 billion), meat (excluding beef) at $1.18 billion, and wheat ($1.18 billion).

The Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, , said the inbound trade mission would promote Victorian expertise in industries such as manufacturing.

Many suppliers to the automotive industry would be involved in the trade mission.

"The Victoria Invitation Program is about promoting Victorian goods, services, expertise and technologies to a critical mass of international buyers," he said.

"Victoria has great standing and success in the global economy. We know our future is even brighter."

VECCI chief executive Mark Stone said he welcomed the trade mission.

"VECCI has consistently supported the active inbound and outbound trade missions of successive Victorian governments and welcomes the arrival of the super inbound trade mission to Victoria this week," he said.