Business e-newsletter
A quarterly bulletin featuring strategic commentaries, regional business event updates and pointers to business-related information from New Zealand and international sources
In this edition:
- New Director Business and new Auckland office for Asia:NZ
- Japan NZ Partnership Forum Advances Economic Links
- Networking Forum on Japan
- ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Update
- ANZCBC appoints Director
- Auckland Chamber of Commerce Advisory Briefings on China
- Taiwanese Investment Promotion Delegation to Visit Auckland
- Free Library and Information Website for Exporters
- New Website of the New Zealand China Trade Association
- Action Asia Website
1. New Director Business for Asia:NZ
James Penn has been appointed as Asia:NZ’s new Director Business, taking over the role from Sarah Creagh. James comes to us from the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), where he has worked for the last three years.
James studied politics at the University of Otago and international business at the University of Auckland. He has worked for Japanese government consular and trade offices for the last nine years in Auckland. Previously, he was a business researcher with an Auckland market research firm following six years in Japan, where he studied Japanese and aikido while working for language schools in various roles, and as a free-lance translator. He speaks, reads and writes Japanese.
James lives in Auckland with his wife and two children. He can be contacted at jpenn@asianz.org.nz or on (09) 368 1435.
Asia:NZ’s Auckland office has moved from 58 Symonds Street, Auckland City. to our new address: 3A, Level 3, 45 Anzac Avenue, Auckland City.
Please note that we also have a new postal address: PO Box 105-134, Auckland City 1143. Telephone numbers remain the same and we can be contacted at (09) 369 5014 or at auckland@asianz.org.nz.
2. Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum Advances Economic Links
The first ever Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum which closed in Tokyo on 15 May met its objective of strengthening the business and economic relationship with Japan. Discussion focused on the key strategic issues facing business in both countries and ways in which the economic and business relationship between New Zealand and Japan can be further strengthened. A key outcome of the Partnership Forum was the agreement between the two governments to undertake a Joint Economic Partnership Study.
Forum co-chair and Asia New Zealand Foundation chairman Hon Philip Burdon commented that “this Forum gave some concrete indicators of where the partnership with Japan can be deepened. We are likeminded on the need for new economic structures to accommodate change in the Asia-Pacific region.”
To read more on the forum including full speeches and statements, click here: http://www.asianz.org.nz/business.
For further information, contact Stephen Jacobi, executive director of NZIBF at stephen@jacobi.co.nz or Daniel Herd at Consultus on 027 694 3574.
3. Networking Forum on Japan
The Asia New Zealand Foundation hosted a networking forum on 26 June aimed at facilitating links for business people from New Zealand's high-tech sector with the Japanese market through the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).
Funded by Asia:NZ, this was the first in a series of networking events to be held with trade offices from the Asian region that offer inward investment and trade promotion support for New Zealand businesses ready to engage with markets in Asia.
To read the rest of the article, click here: http://www.actionasia.co.nz/networking
What do you do when you first meet a business partner in Japan? The Action Asia website has an article complete with audio tips here: http://actionasia.co.nz/node/62
4. ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) Update
MFAT officials led by chief negotiator Vangelis Vitalis have returned from Ha Noi for the fifteenth and concluding round of the over-arching AANZFTA. Whilst in many ways more complex than the recently negotiated agreement with China, this is also an important agreement as ASEAN increasingly sees itself as the heart of regional economic integration.
You can view updates here: http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Trade-and-Economic-Relations/Trade-Agreements/Asean/index.php.To add your views or seek specific information, email Luke Leonard of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at luke.leonard@mfat.govt.nz.
Mr Vitalis will also deliver a briefing to members of the ANZCBC in mid-July. Non-members are welcome to attend this event and learn more about the agreement and its potential directly from those instrumental in creating it.
For more information and to register your interest for the briefing please contact Kate Brabant at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at kbrabant@chamber.co.nz.
5. ANZCBC appoints Director
Former exporter and international trader David Catty has been appointed Director of the ASEAN New Zealand Combined Business Council (ANZCBC) with effect from 1 May 2008.
Mr Catty can be contacted on (09) 578 1312 (phone), (09) 578 1326 (fax), or by email to david.catty@clear.net.nz.
6. Auckland Chamber of Commerce Advisory Briefings on China
The Auckland Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Doing Business in China” seminars. Each briefing will include an overview of doing business in China, a networking opportunity with other businesses attending the briefing, a Q & A session, post-briefing support and networking opportunities with incoming Chinese trade delegations.
Following on from the seminar, the “Understanding Chinese Business Culture” session is designed to provide an overview on the essentials of Chinese business culture. This session will provide attendees with practical advice and insights about how to successfully build business relationships, conduct meetings, and enhance relations by observing cultural practices.
The briefings will focus on business ethics, guanxi and relationships, cultural practices, courtesy and strategies for developing a successful business in China.
For more information about the briefings please visit the b-Global section of www.aucklandchamber.co.nz.
7. Taiwanese Investment Promotion Delegation to Visit Auckland
A delegation of experts assigned by Investment Services Office in Taipei will be in Auckland on 7 July. This is a good opportunity for companies thinking of expanding business to North Asia to receive a concise but comprehensive briefing on the investment environment of Taiwan. Companies are also welcome to arrange individual business meetings.
To attend the briefing or to arrange an individual meeting, please contact Kate Brabant of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at kbrabant@chamber.co.nz.
8. Free Library and Information Website for Exporters
The New Zealand School of Export has made its online Export Library & Information Service (ELIS) freely available to all New Zealand exporters.
The library is unique in that for the first time, a wide range of resources in one location, providing a one-stop-shop for exporters seeking anything from international laws and regulations to foreign exchange rates and time zone information. It can be accessed through the New Zealand School of Export Website at www.export.ac.nz.
Graduates of the School’s Diploma of International Trade are eligible to apply for Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) recognition, the designation recognised by the World Trade Centre Association as the standard of excellence for global business professionals.
For more information, contact Alison Vickers at alison@export.ac.nz.
9. New Website of the New Zealand China Trade Association
The New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA) has recently launched its website at www.nzcta.co.nz, which offers insights on trade missions, events, articles, and news. There is also an option to subscribe to NZCTA’s China Now newsletter.
The NZCTA’s mission is to promote and strengthen trade relations between New Zealand and the People’s Republic of China by creating awareness of trade opportunities and relationship initiatives between New Zealand and China, fostering an active community of members comprised of New Zealand-China traders and those interested in doing business with China, and organising trade missions to China. The NZCTA celebrates its 10th anniversary in September.
For more information, email info@nzcta.co.nz.
10. Action Asia Website
The Action Asia website is looking at a revamp and reintegration into the main Asia:NZ website, which will make it easier to explore our other programmes, namely research, education, media and culture as well as our events calendar and Asia business-related resources.
We constantly seek profiles, stories and information on businesses that have done or are looking to do business in Asia, and also Asian businesses and councils in New Zealand. We are also compiling a list of trade consultants who specialise in entering Asian markets.
If you meet the criteria above or would like to recommend someone who does, we would like to hear from you: email Ezra Low, Auckland office manager at elow@asianz.org.nz.
Action Asia Business is the business programme of the Asia New Zealand Foundation (Asia:NZ). Asia:NZ has direct access to leading Asian expertise, the latest on-the-ground knowledge and has many years of Asian business experience through its staff, board, advisers and networks.
If you are interested in contributing to the newsletter, contact Ezra Low at elow@asianz.co.nz for feedback, event listings and submissions.
Visit Action Asia Business at www.actionasia.co.nz and Asia:NZ’s main website at www.asianz.org.nz.
The items contained in this newsletter may be submitted from external sources and are provided for general information purposes only. Readers should make their own enquiries before making any decisions.
Asia:NZ works to maintain up-to-date information from reliable sources; however, no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions or results of any actions based upon this information. If you have any questions regarding any of these items, contact the organisational representative of that source.
This newsletter may contain links to websites that are created and maintained by other organisations. Asia:NZ does not necessarily endorse the views expressed on these websites, nor does it guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information presented there.