29 January 2014
Auckland Ethnic Business Forum 2014
Immigrant entrepreneurship provides a mechanism to integrate immigrants into mainstream of the host society, and is
often perceived as a comfortable form of socioeconomic self-help.
Small and medium-sized enterprises of up to 20 employees (SMEs) are an important part of the New Zealand economy.
According to the latest data from Statistics New Zealand, they account for:
• 97.2 (455,907) percent of all enterprises
• 30.2 (581,540) percent of all employees
• an estimated 27.8 percent of New Zealand’s Gross Domestic Product
In New Zealand entrepreneurship has been seen as a solution to alleviate the high rate of unemployment in the migrants
after their initial entry into the country.
Ethnic Small and Medium Businesses contribute significantly into Auckland’s growth and wellbeing. However, these
business owners are less likely to use public sector business support than other mainstream enterprises.
The New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Council with support from Auckland City Council and AUT’s Pacific Media
Centre have organised a Business forum that will focus on challenges and issues facing new and small businesses, discuss
face to face with local and central government representatives.
Key speakers include Minister for Ethnic Affairs Hon Judith Collins, Auckland City Mayor Len Brown and several business
entrepreneurs on
• Engaging SMEs in business support programmes
• Developing an ‘integrated’ system of business support
• Promoting sectorial diversification
• Sharing good practice and improving evaluation
Date: Saturday 8th March 2014
Time: 9.00am – 3.00pm
Venue: Sir Paul Reeves Building, WG, AUT University, Wellesley St., Auckland
ENDS