Indian Newslink has always allowed its Anniversary go past unnoticed. We have seldom succumbed to the temptation of parties and ceremonies, because we have always believed in adding substance to your favourite newspaper, rather than fanfare.
However, we thought of taking a few minutes at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards (IBA) 2010 Presentation and Dinner Ceremony at the Stamford Plaza Hotel tonight (November 15) for two main reasons.
Firstly, this is an occasion to recognise and reward successful businesses that entered in various Awards categories and acknowledge all the entrants and tell them that everyone is a winner in the Awards Scheme. The Awards Night will witness the gathering of 500 businesses, among who would be manufacturers, exporters and importers, wholesalers and retailers, consultants, professionals and others. As well as entrepreneurs of Indian origin, the event will witness top executives of commercial banks and financial institutions, national and international companies and other organisations, representing a cross-section of the society. This in itself provides us an opportunity to celebrate New Zealand’s cultural plurality and forge closer ties.
Secondly, the presence of the top leaders of the country, representing as they do, the aspirations of the business community is yet another reason for marking the Anniversary of your Newspaper.
Business Aspirations
Since the establishment of the Awards Scheme in 2008, we have been overwhelmed by the response of the business community, with many saying, “this was the best thing that happened to organisations owned, managed, operated and franchised by people of Indian origin. As the Chief Executive of a large company said, “For the first time in the history of New Zealand business, we have an opportunity to get together on a common platform and forge cooperation, understanding and goodwill.”
According to the owner of a small company, “IBA is an excellent opportunity for businesses to understand and appreciate the need to put in place a proper business plan and strategies for growth.”
Almost all businesses who are in contact with us for news have said that the Business Awards will elevate them to a level from where they could deal with their counterparts in India more effectively.
“We are confident that New Zealand and India will eventually sign a Free Trade Agreement and the experience of participation in the Business Awards will provide us the necessary knowledge and expertise to reach across to Indian businesses. It is a win-win situation,” they said.
New Categories
Such views encouraged us to augment efforts to revisit the Awards Scheme, the result of which was addition of two new categories this year.
The Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award was in response to a number of businesspersons saying that an increasing number of youngsters were establishing commercial ventures and that recognition of their efforts would be a great morale booster to the entire business community.
Auckland based Patton Group readily agreed to sponsor this Category. The Company’s Chief Executive Sameer Handa emphasised the importance of grooming youngsters to become successful executives and entrepreneurs.
“I have immense faith in the growing generations. They should have appropriate opportunities to grow and hone their talents,” he said during an interview (Indian Newslink, June 1, 2010).
Following the launch of IBA in 2008, a number of women in business suggested that there should be an Award to recognise their success. Among them was lawyer Shobhna Golian, who said an exclusive Award for women would be a great source of encouragement and support.
It was in deference to these wishes that we decided to include the Best Businesswoman of the Year as a part of the Awards this year. Confined to women of Indian origin involved in business, this Category, we believe, has been popular.
The management of TV3 was quick to recognise the significance of this category.
Media Works Limited (incorporating TV3 and other companies) Group Managing Director Sussan Turner said such Awards Schemes went a long way in encouraging and motivating businesses to lift their performance levels.
“New Zealand has a growing Indian business community and it is important to ensure that they are recognised for their success. I am happy that Indian Newslink took the initiative of establishing the Awards two years ago. I am also happy that TV3 has become a partner, sponsoring the ‘Best Businesswoman of the Year’ category this year,” she said (Indian Newslink, October 15, 2010).
News & Current Affairs Director Mark Jennings said small to medium-sized businesses were important segments of the economy and the key drivers of future growth.
“We should give them more emphasis in our overall news coverage. We must acknowledge and celebrate their success. We are happy that Indian Newslink took the initiative two years ago and 3News is delighted to be involved with IBA for the second successive year,” he said.
A Panel of judges, independent of this Newspaper is currently evaluating the entries. Like everyone else, we will get to know the names of the finalists and winners in each category and the winner of the Supreme Business of the Year Award at the Awards Night on November 15.
Our Sponsors & Awards
The National Bank of New Zealand (Title Sponsor)
Best Small Business and Supreme Business of the Year
East Tamaki Healthcare: Best Large Business
WAML Group & Teledata Informatics: Best Medium Business
Stamford Plaza Hotel: Best Business Innovation
Patton Limited: Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Millennium Group: Best Restaurant Business
Kalamazoo Group: Best Professional Services Business
Supreme Sikh Council: Best Retailer Business
Dream World New Zealand Limited: Best Exporter to India Business
Radio Tarana: Best Marketing Excellence
TV 3 (Media Works Ltd): Best Businesswoman of the Year
Our Panel of Judges
Chad Wilkie, Executive Director, Ignition Partner Limited (Convenor)
Adrian Dixon, Business Consultant
Chip Dawson, Managing Director, International Business Management Ltd
Dr Claire McGowan, Managing Director, Commercialisation Advisers Ltd
David Hawkins, Associate Professor, Unitec School of Design
Nevil Gibson, Editor-in-Chief, The National Business Review
Peter Bradley, Managing Director, Qatalyst BioConsulting
Ray Knight, Director, SPI Capital
Steve Corbett, Chief Executive, e-Centre Ltd, Massey University
Tony Bacon, Sector and Partner Manager, Vodafone NZ
