The Government has appointed Radio Tarana Managing Director Robert Khan as a member of the newly constituted Small Business Development Group (SBDG), which replaced the earlier ‘Small Business Advisory Group.’’
He is the only person of Indian origin in the 12-member Group, which would have a three-year term, commencing in February 2013.
Tenby Powell, Founder of New Zealand SME Business Network and Rhonda Kite of Digital Media (both from Auckland) will respectively be the Convenor and Deputy Convenor of the Group.
The Group will provide a means for departments and the Government to take fully into account the interests of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in policy initiatives and provide a deeper understanding of how the Government can work most effectively with SMEs.
SBDG will also provide the means for dialogue with SMEs that go beyond individual and immediate issues.
The selection process was based on the evaluation of more than 170 applications received from entrepreneurs in New Zealand.
Proven expertise
Small Business Minister John Banks said that the Government would benefit from the experience and expertise of the Group, whose members represent a diverse range of industries from various parts of the country.
“SMEs are the lifeblood of our economy, and the SBDG would play an important role in providing the small business voice in business policy development,” he said.
According to him, the Group provides the Government with a critical perspective that would not come from either policy or academia.
“The new group will have an increased focus on identifying administrative and regulatory barriers to SME growth. Strong networks and knowledge of the realities facing the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector were the most important qualities that we needed,” Mr Banks said.
Other Members
Among the other Members of the Group are Jonathon Flett (Christchurch), Mitchell Pham (Auckland), Jeremy Ward (Wellington), Neil Pluck (Rakaia), Matthew Jones (Christchurch), Sonia McConnachie (Auckland), David Hiatt (Canterbury), Elspeth Ludemann (Otago) and Adrienne Pierce (Hawkes Bay).
“This Group is sure to offer new perspectives and fresh thinking. I look forward to working with them and hearing their ideas on what this Government can do to assist small business,” Mr Banks said.
