Sponsors Dinner brings together political and commercial leaders
Venkat Raman
National Party Leader and Prime Minister Bill English and Labour Party Leader Jacinda Ardern paid rich tributes to the Indian business community, extoling their role as effective partners in New Zealand’s economic progress and social development.
The Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards, which is now in its tenth year, have become a source of inspiration and encouragement to improve their performance, they said.
Honouring Sponsors
Mr English and Ms Ardern were addressing the Sponsors of the Tenth Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards, in whose honour Indian Newslink hosted a reception and dinner on Monday, September 4, 2017 at the newly opened Mocambo Restaurant on 51 Hobson Street in Auckland City.
Growing Awards
“These Awards have been growing and I have had the pleasure of attending them. Sponsors form the backbone of these Awards and they have contributed significantly to the growth of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards. I thank them for their continued support,” both Mr English and Ms Ardern said in two separate pre-recorded video clips.
Each of them said that their respective Parties – National and Labour – is keen to engage even more closely with the Indian community than they have done in the past.
Their full address (about a minute each) can be heard on our three web editions and on Facebook and Twitter.
Paula Bennett and Kelvin Davis
Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett and Labour Party Deputy Leader Kelvin Davis were the Guests of Honour at the Sponsors Dinner. Among the other politicians present were Members of Parliament Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Jami-Lee Ross (National), Michael Wood (Labour), Labour Party Candidate for Maungakiekie Priyanca Radhakrishnan, National Party Candidate for Kelston Bala Beeram and National Party Extended List Candidate Rahul Sirigiri.
Many other businesses and individuals, who continue to support our Awards Programme were also present.
National’s performance
Ms Bennett said that the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards have become a major event in New Zealand, the credit for which should go to the Sponsors.
“Your incredible support has been the true reason for the impressive success of these Awards. National Party supports small and medium businesses and we are working hard to make sure that our Indian businesses have healthy growth and more money to invest and improve,” she said.
Labour’s pledge
Mr Davis said that the Awards Programme provides a good platform for Indian businesses to grow and to compete in high quality awards. Labour Party has a long and enduring friendship with the Indian community and we will continue to support them. There are great opportunities to engage with New Zealander-Indians in many areas. We thank the businesses supporting this initiative. This Awards Night has become an important event on New Zealand’s Calendar,” he said.
Sponsors’ support
Indian Newslink Managing Director Jacob Mannothra said that the country must celebrate the success of the business community, especially small and medium enterprises which face formidable challenges.
“I am happy that Indian Newslink instituted the Awards Scheme to recognise and reward business achievers in the Indian community. Such projects cannot be successful without the support of sponsors and support sponsors,” he said.
Our Sponsors
BNZ is the Title Sponsor of our Awards for the seventh successive year. BNZ is also the Sponsor of the Best Large Business and the Supreme Business of the Year Awards. Among the Category Sponsors are 2degrees Mobile Limited, Singapore Airlines, AIA New Zealand, Bayleys Real Estate Limited, Service Foods Limited, Oporto Franchising New Zealand, The Fund Master, Aims Global Education & Immigration Services, Manukau Institute of Technology, PIC Insurance Brokers, Kiwi Liquor Group of Companies, Alexandra Park, Relianz Travel, Mercury Printz and Radio Tarana.
The New Zealand Human Rights Commission is the Support Sponsor.
Robust judging
Now in its Seventh year, INLIBA is recognised and noted for its integrity and confidentiality, with a panel of judges receiving and evaluating entries, completely independent of Indian Newslink, sponsors and advertisers.
At the Dinner, the Sponsors were informed of the rigorous and robust judging process, which follows internationally accepted parameters and measures of assessment of entries, evaluation of each entry by at least two judges, selection of finalists and announcement of the winners at the Awards Night, which will be held on Monday, November 27, 2017 at Sky City Convention Centre in Auckland.
The Sponsors, who were apprised of the mutual benefit that accrues from their involvement in our Awards Scheme, said that INLIBA fulfilled an important responsibility in New Zealand’s commercial, industrial and service sectors.
“It is commendable that almost every segment of the business community is represented in INLIBA. From manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and exporters to large, medium, small enterprises to accountants, young entrepreneurs and businesswomen, everyone in the Indian business community makes a significant contribution to the progress of the New Zealand economy,” they said.
Pictures by Naren and Sai Bedekar (Creative Fotographics)
