The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) welcomes the appointment of Stephen Jacobi and Simon Le Quesne to the New Zealand arm of the ANZLF Secretariat.
MAJOR GATHERING OF ASIA-PACIFIC BUSINESS LEADERS TO BE HELD IN AUCKLAND, 12-14 FEBRUARY 2023
Media Release – 14 December 2022
Sustainability, digitalisation and resilient, inclusive trade will be key themes of a major gathering of senior Asia-Pacific business leaders to be held in Auckland early next year – the first such event to be held in New Zealand for some time.
The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is due to meet at the Cordis Auckland from 12 to 14 February. The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) and the Auckland Business Chamber are making the arrangements.
“This will be ABAC’s first meeting for 2023 with the United States in the Chair and led by Dominic Ng, the CEO of East West Bank”, said NZIBF Executive Director and ABAC Alternate Member Stephen Jacobi.
The meeting will build off New Zealand’s successful 2021 APEC host year, which was conducted virtually due to the pandemic.
“This gathering is a critical opportunity for the region’s business community to to reconnect in person to discuss the complex and interconnected challenges we face,” Mr Jacobi said. “ABAC will also hold a dialogue with APEC senior officials”.
Mr Jacobi said the three-day programme would provide an important opportunity to show the innovation and versatility of New Zealand businesses and the dynamism of the Māori economy to an influential audience.
“We are delighted that the ABAC meeting is strongly supported by the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, along with our generous platinum sponsors, Xero and HSBC. Fonterra is hosting the welcome reception for the event, Silver Fern Farms the gala dinner, and Genesis Energy a sustainability luncheon”.
New Zealand’s current ABAC members – Rachel Taulelei of Oho, who chaired ABAC in 2021; Anna Curzon, Chief Product Officer at Xero; and Malcolm Johns, CEO of Christchurch International Airport – all stressed the value of the gathering.
“This is a time of huge disruption and risk. It has never been more important to advocate for open markets and well-functioning supply chains. Just as vitally, we must act urgently to develop an effective and fair response to climate change. Nor can we leave parts of our community behind, which means working out how to use all the levers we have, including digitalisation, to achieve better outcomes for small businesses, women and Indigenous communities,” Rachel Taulelei said.
“We are looking forward to discussing these vital issues with our ABAC colleagues – and of course being able to show manaakitanga as we do so,” she concluded.
ENDS
Background
APEC Economic Leaders have given ABAC a mandate to provide advice on the priorities and concerns of the region’s business community, appointing three senior business representatives from each APEC economy. The Auckland ABAC meeting will involve over 200 business delegates as well as senior officials from APEC economies. New Zealand has previously hosted ABAC meetings in 2009, 2014 and 2018.
REGISTER WITH TRADE WORKS
Register to stay up to date with latest news, as well as saving and discussing articles you’re interested in.
Latest News
NEW TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND LEADERSHIP FORUM
Media release, 2 April 2024 The New Zealand Co-Chair of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF), Greg Lowe, welcomes the appointment of Stephen Jacobi and Simon Le Quesne to the New Zealand arm of the ANZLF Secretariat. The ANZLF brings business leaders,...
NZ/EU FTA A BONUS FOR SOME SECTORS – BUSINESS FORUM
Media release, 22 March 2024 The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) acknowledges the passage of the implementing legislation for the New Zealand/European Union Free Trade Agreement and looks forward to the FTA’s entry into force on 1 May. “This agreement was...
“MEAGRE OUTCOME” FROM WTO IN ABU DHABI – BUSINESS FORUM
Media release, 2 March 2024 Despite its overwhelming importance at the heart of the international trade system, members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have concluded their Ministerial in Abu Dhabi (“MC13”) with only a meagre outcome. NZ International Business...
To go or woe with the WTO?
We’ve been here before with the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The global trade body’s 13th Ministerial meeting (“MC13”) opens in Abu Dhabi on Monday 26 February, with Trade Minister McClay serving as Vice-Chair. In recent weeks diplomats, trade...
DCANZ – Agricultural Subsidy Distortions Must Be Addressed
23 February 2024 - Media Release by the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) As the world’s Trade Ministers head to a WTO meeting in Abu Dhabi, the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) is calling for an immediate capping of agricultural...
Asia-Pacific business leaders call for greater economic dynamism with people at the center of the APEC agenda
16 February 2024 - APEC NEWS RELEASE Issued by The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), meeting this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, expressed deep concerns about the growing pressures of economic fragmentation and the risks...
SUBMISSION TO THE PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE COMMITTEE – FEBRUARY 2024
NEW ZEALAND EUROPEAN UNION FREE TRADE AGREEMENT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL Introduction and Summary This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) and Export NZ. NZIBF is a forum of senior business leaders working...
ABAC Statement on WTO MC13 – February 2024
Now, more than ever, the world needs a credible, relevant, and effective multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. In this era of global challenges, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) recognizes that the WTO is...
Global Industry Statement on the WTO Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions
NZIBF has joined 170 international business associations in calling for an extension to the current moratorium on tariffs applying to digital services (like Netflix) at the forthcoming WTO Ministerial meeting. The undersigned associations urge WTO members to support...
Resilient supply chains: Yesterday, today and tomorrow
Published by the Hinrich Foundation, Singapore, 23 August 2024 By Stephen Jacobi History has much to teach us about the way trade contributes to prosperity through the movement of goods, services, people, and ideas. Today, data can be added to this web of...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
GENERAL REVIEW OF THE COMPREHENSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT FOR TRANS- PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP (CPTPP) DECEMBER 2023 Summary This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF). As individual NZIBF Members may make their own...
Todd McClay – your trade mission, should you choose to accept it …
As published by Newsroom 19 December 2023 By Stephen Jacobi “Twas the week before Christmas, When all through the house Not a creature was stirring, Except busy trade officials … ‘Tis the season to be “BiM-ing”* and the NZ International Business Forum has sent its...
2023 – Steps forward and back
Trade liberalisation moved forward and backward in 2023. Some notable gains have been achieved for New Zealand, but war, geo-political rivalry and global inflation continue to depress global markets. While the pandemic continued to lurk in the shadows, 2023 was the...
NZIBF releases Brief to the Incoming Minister of Trade
DECEMBER 2023...
NZIBF 2023 Chair Report
I am pleased to present my third report on the activities and achievements of the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) for 2023-24, our sixteenth year of operations. I am grateful to all Members and to our executive team for your continuing support. As I...