INZBC puts focus on Sports Diplomacy and relations

The India New Zealand Business Council on 14 Dec Friday, held it’s end-of-year event at Eden Park, Auckland. The Key note speaker was the minister for Whānau Ora, Youth and for the Community and Voluntary Sector – Hon. Peeni Henare.

Mr. Henare spoke to the gathering about the importance of sports in the community, youth and improving relations with the Indian diaspora. Congratulating INZBC on the events done during the year and the continued work done by the council, he said, “Your national and regional events and proactive relationship with Government combine to deliver an effective strategy, as evidenced by the strong membership you’ve grown since 1988, and that you are the only organisation recognised universally by key Government agencies in both countries.”

“Our relationship with India is a priority for New Zealand and its importance is growing. India’s strong economy, large population and international influence make it a key partner in the Asia-Pacific region. It also represents enormous potential for our exporters.”

The minister emphasised, “Both our countries have an interest in the prosperity and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, and actively participate in the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum. India is a Post Forum Dialogue partner in the Pacific Islands Forum. We also connect as members of a number of international organisations including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the Commonwealth.

The Prime Ministers also signed an amendment to the existing Sports Cooperation Arrangement to facilitate greater bilateral youth exchanges. As Minister for Youth, I am keenly interested in these opportunities for our young people to experience the richness of Indian culture and become everyday ambassadors for our burgeoning relationship”, the minister commented.

Sameer Handa, the new Chair of INZBC also spoke about the love of Cricket and how it binds the people of the two nation. He said, “Today, we choose to dwell on the more informal aspect of the relationship with India, which is Cricket. Cricket & Sports binds the souls of the two countries, India & NZ, like nothing else.”

“The beach cricket in New Zealand rivals with the ‘Gully’ Cricket or Street Cricket in India.
Cricket has played a significant role in India’s culture for the best part of 80 years and unites a country of huge diversity. It is loved and worshipped.
But today, it has also become a big business.”

Board member, Earl Rattray explained the importance of the role of Cricket specially, in the current scenario.

With the five year IPL media rights worth $2.55 billion USD, it’s now a billion dollar industry. There are 11 Black Caps playing in the IPL and around 800K Indian likes on the BLACKCAPS Facebook page.

“All this goes to show the great interest of both countries in the game of Cricket and the possibility of leveraging it for the betterment of the ties between the two nations”, said Earl.

INZBC Treasurer and Hon. Consul of India, emphasised, “Cricket is where we can relate with each other; it’s a bridge that can span the cultural divide. It’s with cricket that the real conversations can be had, and it is through cricket that the deals can be made. And this is the reason for making this event happen today.”

INZBC Launches a quarterly business magazine – KiaOra India

On this occasion, the minister also launched the quarterly business magazine, published by INZBC, called KiaOra India.

This magazine will be published every quarter and be available for free circulation, digitally. This magazine will give a platform to celebrate the success stories in the India-NZ Trade, which often go unnoticed.

It a platform to debate, discuss and share issues, facing the industry and will incorporate contributions from all chambers of commerce – in India as well as NZ.

The editor of the magazine, Dev Nadkarni said, “The India New Zealand Business Council, in the thirty years of its existence, has had a ringside view of developments in the New Zealand-India relationship. It has helped facilitate and catalyse parleys between officials of both countries and hosted summits. The Council is excited as the relationship enters this meaningful new phase and is poised to do its bit to help power the growth of trade and investment between the two countries.”

“There is no gainsaying the power of communication in the building of successful, growing relationships. Kia Ora India hopes to be the platform to connect INZBC members and stakeholders in the New Zealand-India relationship to help craft the exciting new chapters of the unfolding story of the kiwi and the elephant, said Dev.

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