In accordance to the MOU of Indian and NZ government, to promote bilateral trade, within the two nations, the first New Zealand India Business Forum was successfully held at Hamilton, New Zealand in the month of November, 2012 and it went ahead as building a platform for the academicians and corporate fraternity of both the countries to come together and understand the nuances of doing businesses at each other's territories. While the first Business forum, hosted at Hamilton, focused largely on channelizing NZ investments to India and developing a better understanding of Indian markets and business practises, the 2nd forum was proposed to be a platform for exploration of mutual and reciprocal opportunities in chosen areas of economic development.

 

N.R. Institute of Business Management (GLS MBA) hosted 2nd New Zealand-India Business Forum on December 14, 2013 in association with University of Waikato, New Zealand and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

 

Guest of Honour for the event was Mrs. Jan Henderson, High Commissioner of New Zealand, amidst the presence of various dignitaries consisting of Shri Sudhir Nanavati, Executive Vice President, GLS, Shri Devang Nanavati, Honorary Secretary, GLS, Prof. Geof Holmes, Chairperson, India Regional Group, University of Waikato, the convenor of the forum from New Zealand: Dr. Asad Mohsin, Director, Institute of Business Research, University of Waikato, the convenors of the forum from India: Dr. Hitesh Ruparel, & Dr. Rajesh Asrani, N.R. Institute of Business Management and Ms. Chandni Kapadia from Gujarat Law Society.

 

The forum mainly deliberated to achieve the following objectives:

  1. To develop mutual ties between organizations of similar interest as well as those willing to partner in strategic areas.
  2. To help the academicians and corporate fraternity of both the countries understand and appreciate each other's cultural differences and dynamics of businesses, practises and economic policies
  3. To facilitate inflow of investments in both the countries in a reciprocal manner by involving trade counsels and federations in a structured manner
  4. To build the forum as a platform for understanding the challenges faced in doing businesses across both nations and suggest solutions.
  5. To advice Indian Government ( and if possible NZ) on required policy changes to ensure better trade and investment opportunities between the two nations.

 

The 2nd edition of the forum focused on:

  1. Emphasis on the current economic scenario and mapping Investment/Business opportunities in both the nations more specifically in the areas of:
    • Tourism and Health
    • Information Technology
    • Dairy and agri-business
    • Trade and exports
    • Education
  2. Conduciveness of business establishment in India vs. New Zealand with respect to:
    • Ease of establishment of business
    • Adequacy of protection of property rights
    • Taxation norms
    • Compliance regulations
  3. Role of Trade counsels and Federations of commerce to educate and encourage corporate fraternity to invest in the respective nations in the chosen areas.
  4. Assessment of the role of government(s) to promote bi-lateral trade between India and New Zealand and recommendation of policy initiatives in the same area.

 

In order to give justice to these broad ranging themes, the forum featured various key-note addresses and panel discussions.

 

Mr. Nilesh Purey, Vice President at GIFT City, Savan Godiawala, Sr. Director – Deloitte Touche, Prof. John Gibson, University of Waikato, Mr. Prashanta Mukherjee, Director India Horizons Limited, New Zealand, Mr. Rohit Swarup, the Chairman of International research foundation and founder director of Xplora Designs and Future Explored, Mr. NV Gautam, Gallagher, New Zealand and Dr. Surya Pandey, Institute of Business Research, University of Waikato participated in Colloquium on "Growing Business Opportunities India and New Zealand".

 

The next session focused on Opportunities in Education Sector and the dignitaries of the Colloquium were Dr. Bradford Morse, Dean, School of Law, University of Waikato Dr. Vijai Kattiyar, Dean, National Institute of Design, India and Dr. Hemant Trivedi, Director, PDPU, India.

Prof Shyam Lodha - Professor and chairman, Marketing Department at Southern Connecticut State University addressed the key session on "Opportunities for India NZ Business".

 

After that the other colloquium on "Mutual Opportunities in Tourism" and the dignitaries were Mr. Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director, Gujarat Tourism, Dr. Sandeep Kulshreshta, Professor, Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism Management, Dr. Asad Mohsin, Unviersity of Waikato.

 

Prof. Jay Mitra, University of Essex, United Kingdom addressed the key session on "Building Entrepreneurial Competencies".

 

The next session focused on "Information Technologies and Communication- Opportunities and Challenges" and the dignitaries were Prof. Geof Holmes, University of Waikato, Mr. Tarun Kanji, Director and Global Chief Financial Officer at Pinger Group, New Zealand and Mr. Pankaj Shah, President at Gujarat Electronic and Software Industry Association.

 

Dr. Jayanti Ravi, Commissioner of Technical Education, Gujarat delivered the key note address on 'Education Scenario in India.

 

The last session of the Business Forum focused on "Dynamics of Agribusiness Dairy Industry". The dignitaries in this Colloquium were Dr. Frank Scrimgeour, Unviersity of Waikato, Dr. Mustafa Farouk, Sr. Scientist, Ag- Research, New Zealand, Mr. Parag Desai, Executive Director, Waghbakri Tea, Mr. RS Sodhi, MD at Amul and Mr. Bimlesh Singh, Director Flourish Pure Foods.

 

The event also witnessed the release of book 'Exploiting Global Boundaries: Managing Business Transitions' edited by Dr. Hitesh Ruparel, Director, N.R. Institute of Business Management and Dr. Rajesh Asrani, Professor, Gujarat Law Society.

 

2nd India-New Zealand Business Forum
2nd India-New Zealand Business Forum
 
2nd India-New Zealand Business Forum
2nd India-New Zealand Business Forum