Venkat Raman –
New Zealand and India can take their commercial and cultural relations to the next level if they realise the immense potential and pool their strengths for mutual benefit. There should be the will to do so.
These were among the comments heard at the first Business Summit of the India New Zealand Friendship Association (INZFA) held at Hyatt Regency in Chennai on January 12, 2015.
Editor’s Note: This should not be confused either with the Business Summit organised by the India New Zealand Business Council in Auckland on March 13, 2015 or with the New Zealand India Friendship Association initiated by the Indian High Commissioner Ravi Thapar. These are three independent entities claiming to pursue a common objective.
INZFA Founder-Chairman Wenceslaus Anthony said that the Chennai Conference considered Christchurch Rebuild as the single largest endeavour in New Zealand and that Indian investors, entrepreneurs and businesses have a unique opportunity to participate in the mammoth exercise with their financial capital and intellectual expertise.
Speaking to Indian Newslink, he said that the Association will be based in India and undertake efforts to build collaborative partnership for mutual economic development between India and New Zealand.
“Among the primary areas of fostering strength are Business, Education, Science, Health, Trade, Investment, Information Technology, Food Processing, Dairy, Arts, Culture, Sports and Films. INZFA will work with various organizations in New Zealand and India and not re-invent the wheel,” he said.
No Politics
Describing the Association as ‘People’s Movement,’ he said that it would remain non-political and useful to both countries.
Quoting India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (at the launch of ‘Make in India’ Campaign on September 25, 2014), he said, “My definition of FDI (usually Foreign Direct Investment) is ‘First Develop India.’ We have to create opportunities of employment,” Mr Anthony said and added his comment: “We have to find ways and means of uplifting the poor. This should form a part of our commitment and the new definition for FDI.”
“Mr Modi had urged the international community not to look at India merely as a big market but at the ‘larger picture’ and as long-term involvement. Investors should use the existing and emerging opportunities and promote a more meaningful engagement.”
Key Message
In his message read out at the Conference, Prime Minister John Key had said that New Zealand and India shared a number of common values, including the Commonwealth, Legal system, business language and democracy.
“We strongly value our strong bilateral ties with India. We look forward to building on our ties in the years ahead, and learning more about and from India. I believe we can build an enduring and successful partnership with India that will bring in huge rewards for both our countries in the years to come,” he said.
Musing over the formation of INZFA, Mr Anthony said that its outcome could be positive or negative and that with the right process and systems in place and with the right commitment, success would be at hand.
“This is possible only with the collaboration of all the stakeholders and the commitment. Let us have a leading Management Institute like the Institute of Management and Xavier School of Management in New Zealand,” he said.
The one-day Conference was jointly organised by INZFA and the Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), with the sponsorships of a number of companies.
Illuminating Speakers
Among the other speakers at the Conference (as reported in our January 15 and February 1, 2015 issues) were Commonwealth Foundation Chairman and former New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, the Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, former Secretary to Indian President Pejavar Murari, India Beachhead Advisor (affiliated to New Zealand Trade & Enterprise) Ashish Hemrajani, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India Grahame Morton, New Zealand’s Consul General (Dubai) Clayton Kimpton, New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner (Mumbai) Kevin McKenna, The Warehouse Group Chief Executive Mark Powell
Commerce & Industry Joint Secretary J K Dadoo represented the Indian government, while LIBA President Dr Casimir Raj and LIBA Dean Dr G Revathi represented the organisers and hosts.
