Council News & Events

Forthcoming Events

Reception for the Latin American Ambassadors in New Zealand, 5.30pm, 30 September 2010

at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Lumley House, 88 Shortland Street, Auckland

Click here for registration form

Recent Events

Chairman’s Report to the 2010 AGM

I am pleased to submit my third and final report covering the past twelve months work of the Council as your Chair.

W e have had another full year of activities, with regular events each month, keeping our commitment to our members that we would achieve this goal. The business climate continues to be uncertain and tough, and given these times I am pleased to report that along with our regular monthly activities we have managed to increase our membership in 2009 to a high at the end of the year of 58. This calendar year has not seen all those members renewing again, and we continue to face the challenge of convincing business people of the value of participating and belonging to international business councils such as LANZBC.

Our financial situation remains stable with an overall positive balance. Currently we have around $37,000 in funds of which $16,000 is in our Brazil Call Account, being the surplus from our Brazil Business For a. However we do still require greater certainty of income, if we are to achieve the range of activities that have been discussed by the Board over the past year. We have now established a framework to approach sponsors and thereby increase our basic funding base. This work lies ahead for the incoming Board to action! I would like to express my thanks for the hard work done by several Board members to move sponsor ideas and actions along, especially the input from Tom Manning.

On the same theme I do want to acknowledge all the work fellow Board members have put in to LANZBC this past year, and in particular to thank Deputy Chair Clare Callow for her support to me. We have had masses to do, and it has been rewarding for me to have such excellent colleagues, giving their time and expertise to move things along. I must also thank Fergus McLean our Director for his work, which is often carried out behind the scenes, but without which everything would grind to a halt. Thank you Fergus.

Over the twelve month, period covering this report, we have held 12 functions (more than ever), with 9 in Auckland, 2 in Wellington and 1 in Christchurch. Events have included: A roundtable function in Wellington with New Zealand’s four Latin American based ambassadors, followed by a similar event in Auckland; a presentation by Flowerzone International on their success in South America; presentations by Plant and Food Research, Compac Industries and the NZ Export Credit Office, the Gallagher Group and another by Les Mills . We held a roundtable meeting with two Directors of NZTE’s South America Beachheads Programme (from Chile and Argentina).

The major event was of course the Brazil Business Forum in Auckland, attracting just under 200 participants and smaller Brazil Business Fora in Wellington and Christchurch, both attracting around 50 people to each event. These are major undertakings, raising our profile, informing New Zealand business people of the opportunities for them to think about in this Latin American emerging powerhouse. We enjoyed excellent support and cooperation from MFAT and NZTE for which we are grateful, and enjoyed outstanding presenters, both from Brazil and New Zealand. I hope the Council will develop this style of meeting focused on other major Latin American countries of interest to New Zealand business in the years ahead. I must record a special thanks to Board members who gave their time in the planning of these events, and especially for the contribution of Katia McKenzie.

I must acknowledge our major benefactors over the past year; AUT University, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Lan Airlines, LAN Airlines, Discovery Education, ANZ, MFAT and NZTE. We value their support immensely. It is critical to our ability to deliver a useful service to New Zealand business.

On matters electronic, I can report that our improved website has been kept up to date and relevant, and now has links in to 95% of our members. We continue to send all members the daily email bulletin, always well received, and of course the monthly news from a New Zealand angle on Latin America.

As you know I am stepping down at this AGM from my role as chair. I have enjoyed the challenge and the company of members, especially on the board, although I must admit it has turned out to be a much bigger task than I imagined! I wish LANZBC, and the incoming Chair and Board all the very best in the coming year. Much remains to be done. The challenge for LANZBC is similar to the challenge for all New Zealand. We need to grow interest in Latin America and convince more New Zealanders that they need to put the effort in to grow business opportunities internationally, especially in the Asia Pacific (including Latin America) for their own reward and for the future prosperity of this country. This is a critical challenging task, where LANZBC has a valuable leadership role to play. I wish the Council well in addressing this challenge.

Chris Hawley

Chair

Memorandum of Understanding with Colombian Organisation

On 16 March the Council signed an MOU with the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI). The text of the MOU follows:

Recognising that the business linkages between Columbia and New Zealand have significant potential to grow, LANZBC and ANDI agree:

• To maintain regular exchanges of information between each party about the respective activities and opportunities for business in each country;

• To promote to their respective business communities the possibilities for business with the other country as much as possible;

• To promote the concept of investment and technology flows between the two countries;

• To support the further development of education services and linkages between the two countries;

• To encourage their respective Governments to consider ways in which business linkages between the two countries can be  strengthened, including through Ministerial visits;

• To promote and encourage more business visits and delegations between the two countries, leading to beneficial outcomes for both sides.