In a very tough environment for business and hence it is important to acknowledge and honour successful businesspeople with events such as the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards.
The Indian business community makes a great contribution to New Zealand.
Indian business is extremely diverse. Businesses serve the Indian community and New Zealand as a whole in a wide range of industries. Picking the winners will be a difficult choice for the judges
With unemployment at 7.3% and many families struggling, I believe that more needs to be done to help productive businesses grow, export more and hire more people.
This is a tough time to be in business. It is also a very tough time to be unemployed. I believe we could do more to help good businesses like the ones we recognise at the Awards Night.
We want them to expand, increase profits and hire more New Zealanders.
Positive changes
Labour wants to make the changes needed to fix our exchange rate so that we can have a more competitive dollar that helps our exporters sell more overseas.
We will also reform the tax policy to get investment into productive businesses and into research and development.
Working alongside industry and business is critical to developing a clean, green and clever economy where all New Zealanders can earn a good wage.
Rewarding innovation
I am particularly interested in two Awards.
As my Party’s spokesperson for science and innovation, I look forward to seeing the winner of the ‘Business Excellence in Innovation’ Award.
I am sure that they will have some fascinating ideas.
I am a great admirer of young people who have the guts to set out on their own and start a business.
It is a brave thing to do, especially in this environment and it should be applauded.
That is why I would be keen to see the winner of the ‘Best Young Entrepreneur Award.’
David Shearer is Leader of the Opposition and a Guest of Honour at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards scheduled to be held on November 19, 2012.
