Trade Minister Tim Groser has lauded the initiatives of the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) in promoting constructive engagement between businesses in New Zealand and India, saying that it is timely and highly desirable.
“The Council has delivered on its promise and the Government is thankful for its input into its ‘New Zealand Inc’ strategy,” he said.
Mr Groser’s comments came on the wake of the General Election of the Council held at its Annual General Meeting in Auckland on May 26.
More than 60% of the Council’s members participated in the Election, either at the AGM or online, as per the new Constitution that the business body adopted recently, reflecting the need for a more robust performance.
“I look forward to engaging with the council to obtain valuable input and advice in matters of New Zealand-India business and trade,” Mr Groser said.
The Council came out of its dormancy two years ago and has since been an active participant in promoting bilateral trade between the two countries. Its involvement in the ongoing negotiations leading to a Free Trade Agreement has received praise from the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. As a non-political and goals-oriented organisation, the Council is an important player in New Zealand’s tryst with India.
Turning Point
Chairman Wenceslaus Anthony said the recent Election was a turning point in the 23-year-old history of the Council as it was conducted in terms of the e-AGM rules whereby members were given ten days to exercise their franchise either through the internet or in person at the Meeting.
“More than half of the 60% of the votes polled were online. This process enables members who are either travelling overseas or otherwise engaged to participate in the democratic process,” he said.
The AGM elected Prashanta Mukherjee (India Horizonz Limited Wellington) and Paddy Marra (Ashcott Consulting, Wellington) respectively to the posts of Deputy Chairman and Treasurer.
Among the members of the Executive Committee are Bhav Dhillon (Cemix Limited, Auckland), Edwin Paul (Edcorp International, Auckland), Ian Stockwell (Aviation New Zealand, Wellington), Jacob Manothra (Sounds of Forest, Nelson), Dr Kamal Ghose (Lincoln University, Canterbury), Prince Kumar (Edex Consulting, Auckland) and Sunil Kaushal (ANZ Bank, Auckland).
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise International Marketing Manager (South & South East Asia) Don Rae and Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (UN & Commonwealth Division Deputy Director) Wen Powles (MFAT) are ex-officio members of the Executive.
Mr Anthony said ANZ Bank has been a strategic partner with the Council in hosting conferences, luncheon meetings and other programmes to promote business-to-business and Government-to-Business relations between the two countries.
New Priorities
Mr Mukherjee said the Council will draft a proper business plan and raise adequate financial resources to establish a Secretariat on priority.
The Meeting felicitated Fergus McLean, who retired after 15 years as Executive Director of the Council.
Mr Anthony paid rich tributes to Mr McLean, saying that he brought his worldwide knowledge and expertise to his assignment with the Council.
He was previously New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner in Brussels (covering Benelux countries and Scandinavia), Vienna (looking after Austria and erstwhile Socialist Countries of Eastern Europe) and Canberra (Australia). He also did tours of duty as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Market Development Board, Trade Development Board, and Executive Director of Korea New Zealand Business Council and Latin America New Zealand Business Council.
