ASEAN Business Alliance Meets in Singapore

The second meeting of the NZ ASEAN Business Alliance (NZ ABA) was held on Friday 24 August at the New Zealand High Commission in Singapore.
 
Representatives from the NZ Chamber Singapore, ASEAN Business Council, Malaysia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, New Zealand Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and other members of the NZ Chamber met to continue the discussions from the inaugural meeting held on 27 November 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.
 
At that meeting eighteen attendees from Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and New Zealand met to continue talks aimed at increasing connectivity between New Zealand Chambers in Asia, a concept first mooted in 2016. 
 
Areas discussed at the meeting included examining current challenges and opportunities of member organisations, as well as identifying member needs. 
 
Purpose of the Alliance
The NZ ASEAN Business Alliance (NZABA) is designed to benefit New Zealand companies, working in, or planning to do or doing business in Asia, as well as Asia-based companies engaged with New Zealand. This increased connectivity would improve business linkages, share local knowledge and contacts, and provide reciprocal membership of associations and access to business events while travelling, as well as make the most of the NZ business associations already in play.
 
“We plan to improve cohesion of the members using a number of measures.  One of the ways is to create an inter-connected regional database of members. Another way is by identifying and developing special interest groups, and engaging other regional associations.” said Andrew Bayly of MNZCC, who co-chairs the Alliance with Mitchell Pham, from the ASEAN Business Council.
 
 
“It was our pleasure to host the second gathering of NZ Chambers in ASEAN. Over the past year, the initial working group has developed an MOU to formalise our working agreement - this has been signed and adopted by ASEAN NZ Business Council, NZ Chamber Singapore, Malaysia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce, and more recently the New Zealand Myanmar Chamber of Commerce, with the Hong Kong Chamber and the newly formed NZ Business Roundtable in China signalling intentions to sign in the near future”, said Danica Burke, Executive Director of NZ Chamber Singapore.

“What is really exciting now is seeing Chambers across the region come on board the same technology platform. That’s been the major obstacle for a connected network of New Zealand Chambers in the past. With more Chambers using Eventbank, members will be able to tap into their neighbouring countries of interest, stay up to date with what is happening regionally, and connect with members and companies that are part of this growing alliance of Chambers and Business Councils with reciprocal member attendance fees. Next time you’re up in KL, just flash your digital membership card to attend events at local member price. We are working towards a future of a real and accessible regional network that is tech-powered and people-centric. Kiwis and kiwi-related businesses are doing incredible things in this region and our Asia-wide Business Alliance is going to be an integral part of nurturing and facilitating that community. It will also give us the platform to build regionally connected special interest groups to meet member demand – such as Women in Business, Maori Business, Tech & Startup communities, even Rugby and alumni groups. It’s a great time to re-connect with your local Chamber and grow your connections in the region.”
 
Next steps
Quarterly digital event hosts for 2019 were decided, and annual conference hosts for the next four years, with the next to be held in Thailand. 

For more information,
NZ Chamber Singapore:
Danica Burke
Executive Director
nzed@nzchamber.org.sg