Our 25th Anniversary Celebrations have abated, somewhat! and our conference concluded successfully with much learnt, discussed and resolved. What now for the Fiji New Zealand Business Council and its members. Well guess what, there are lots of new and exciting initiates planned exclusively for our members over the next couple of years and beyond! So get involved and make the most of your membership. If you haven't joined yet, then if you are a Kiwi or Fijian and have a business trading between ‘God Zone' and ‘Paradise' what are you waiting for? Our membership has doubled over the last two years and is continuing to grow because of the increased and improved scale and scope of our business and social networking events, not to mention business development, mentoring and support opportunities.
Our committee under the current leadership of Raman Dahia (President) believe that there is even more scope to network and socialise, develop a formal mentoring program and revive, in a new and improved form, the "Kiwi Club" fraternity to celebrate significant annual events on the sporting calendar, including the Bledisloe Cup, ANZAC test match, Four Nations and more, and as usual to jointly host and finance further exporting initiatives with the Fiji Export Council.
Due to demand and necessity, we expect to hold monthly committee meetings followed by business and social networking events, alternating between Suva and Nadi, for the convenience and inclusion of our diverse membership. Our Nadi ‘chapter' or membership and involvement at committee level has continued to grow.
We intend to have corporate sponsored events shortly and we expect business houses like Vodafone, Westpac, ANZ, British American Tobacco, KPMG and Goodman Fielder to come to the party. So watch this space.
We thank The Fiji Times for its initiative to put together a supplementary lift-out to commemorate our 25th Anniversary and Conference and for the Fiji New Zealand Business Council to map out its future vision.
On behalf of our life and corporate members we would like to thank all those individuals and organisations that have assisted in some way to make this anniversary year and conference so very special. Particularly our Elite Platinum Sponsors, Westpac, ANZ, and British American Tobacco, as well as, our many other sponsors including the Goodman Fielder ice-cream! The Fiji Rugby Union for allowing us the privilege to be part of the Fiji v Scotland Corporate Box, After-Match Function and Charity Auction for the PM's Flood Appeal. The Air New Zealand sponsored after-dinner speaker, former All Black Glen Osborne and his wife Khylee for entertaining us all and joining with us in our general celebrations and conference.
Also, our newly minted life members, deserve a special mention for their outstanding service to the business council, investment and trade in Fiji over the last decade. Namely, Mark Hirst (HG Leach), Lisa Apted (KPMG), Sir Clifford Skeggs (Port Denarau and former mayor of Dunedin) and Rick Reid (President New Zealand Fiji Business Council for the past decade).
Kind Regards,