Entrepreneurs and professionals honoured at our 11th Annual Business Awards
Venkat Raman
The Coalition Government will provide incentives and continue to encourage businesses to grow and thrive, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said.
Speaking at the Eleventh Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards Presentation Ceremony held at SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland City on Monday, November 26, 2018, she said that one of the key priorities of her government is to enhance the country’s economy by supporting the progress and success of businesses across New Zealand.
Innovative and Productive
“And Indian businesses are some of our country’s most innovative and productive and I am delighted that there is a special acknowledgement of achievers in that category in tonight’s Awards,” she said.
Editor’s Note: ‘Business Excellence in Innovation,’ sponsored by Singapore Airlines has been a category since the Awards were launched in 2008. Please read our Award Special (from Page 8) for details of the Winner and the Judges’ Commendation Award.
Our Guests of Honour
Ms Ardern recognised the presence of several leaders, ministers, diplomats, and many dignitaries at the Awards Ceremony. Among them were Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges, Finance Minister Grant Robertson, Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni, Export Growth and Trade Minister David Parker, Police Minister Stuart Nash, Ethnic Communities Minister Jenny Salesa, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji Jonathan Curr, Consul General and Trade Commissioner Australia and New Zealand of Fiji based in Sydney.
Sound economic system
Ms Ardern said that among the aspirations of her government is to provide a sound economic system for businesses to thrive with good growth projections, with lowest unemployment in a decade and budget surpluses.
“I hope that we will continue to provide the eco system that you need,” she told about 1000 businesspersons, entrepreneurs and professionals who attended the event.
Fostering relations with India
Stating that the bilateral relations with India continue to grow from strength to strength, Ms Ardern said that the two-way service trade is now valued at $2.7 billion.
“Tourism has doubled since 2011 and students from India are the second largest source of foreign students for us. We believe that there is potential to grow the relationship between the two countries even further and you have my commitment that we as a government will continue to see that relationship thrive,” she said.
Part of Aotearoa Heritage
Ms Ardern said that all New Zealanders are committed to valuing our heritage and tradition across every facet of that history and that the Indian community has been a part of the rich history and heritage of Aotearoa.
“At the recent Armistice Centenary (Indian Newslink, November 15, 2018), I was reminded that Indian soldiers fought as ANZAC soldiers at Gallipoli as a part of that Heritage that we often do not talk about, but we should,” she said.
The story continues as ‘Leaders pay tribute to Indian Business Community in homelink.
Our 20-Page Awards Special begins on Page 9, issued in our print edition can be viewed in our Digital Edition online, on this homepage and under ‘Specials.’
