Len Brown's Letter To Manukau

Friday, 21 August 2009 - Issue 80

Trade Delegation to the Pacific
We have just returned from our Trade Delegation to the Pacific and visited over the last 10 days, Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa.

Our trade delegation included 22 businesses from our city and some from around the country. We also had two of our main tertiary institutions, Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) on this delegation.

From the outset of this trade mission, our primary focus was to provide local businesses the appropriate platform for them to establish contacts and do business with the three island nations.

We received wonderful support from the New Zealand Pacific Business Council on this venture, particularly from NZPBC chairman, Gilbert Ullrich, who was on board as our business adviser.

Tonga, Samoa and American provided – in their own way - unique opportunities for those who were on the delegation.

We were humbled in Tonga by how well received the delegation was, despite the challenging times faced by this proud community with the tragic Princess Ashika ferry tragedy.

Members of our delegation attended services in Tonga for the victims, and those of us who met with Prime Minister Fred Sevele, passed on our deepest condolences to him, on behalf of the people of Manukau.

Our visits to Samoa and American Samoa were also well received and a lot of business and networking was carried out in the short time we spent there.

We met with the Head of State and Prime Minister of Samoa and the Governor of the American territory to discuss a wide range of interests and issues, and our delegates were able to meet with their counterparts and get on with establishing the crucial links that are vital to any future opportunities.

There is no doubt in my mind that we further strengthened our already solid relationships with our Pacific neighbours on this delegation. Our focus has always been on greater co-operation between Manukau and our Pacific neighbours, particularly in the business sector and we are quietly confident, that the potential our businesses saw overseas, is a positive step towards greater two-way investment and development between our city and our Pacific neighbours.

I want to acknowledge Deputy Mayor Gary Troup, Councillor Arthur Anae and Chief Executive Officer Leigh Auton's support on this delegation, and I want to particularly thank the businesses who were part of this fantastic venture.

We look forward to receiving updates on the tangible results that have come out of the Pacific trade delegation.

Have a good week.

Len Brown
Mayor of Manukau

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