Annual General Meeting: 7 December 2013
Good afternoon members and guests, ladies and gentlemen to our 13th Annual General Meeting. As you are all aware the Chamber’s vision of ‘Commerce with no barriers’
As you are all aware the Chamber’s vision of ‘Commerce with no barriers’ is strengthens with our objectives that are founded on 4 pillars, which are: promote, enhance, facilitate and participate. These objectives were relevant 13 years ago when the Chamber was established and remain relevant now. These four pillars will be the Chamber’s means to actively engage at a local and global level as we overcome the economic, social, environmental, technological and political challenges the Asia Pacific nations are facing now and in the future. The Chamber will remain committed to
The Chamber will remain committed to be an active advocate, to be an active partner and to be an active business organisation focus in achieving its objectives. I would like to reiterate these as follows:
- To promote and encourage Australian and Filipino professionals and business enterprises in Australia.
- To enhance and encourage business relationships between Australia and Asian countries, particularly the Philippines.
- To facilitate the sharing of information and expertise that will assist newly established businesses and/or those intending to start up a business.
- To actively participate and contribute to Australia’s economic growth by assisting our members’ international business ventures and partnerships.
Our Chamber’s activities this year were based on these objectives.
The Chamber continues to be an active member of the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Round Table by engaging with 25 multicultural business chambers and councils and participating in organising the Annual Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Awards and Gala Night. The Chamber is also active in raising funds and supporting the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Scholarship Program in the past 7 years.
The Chamber participated at the following events and engaged with trade and business dialogues:
|
Month (2013) |
Events and Activities |
Hosted by |
|
7 March |
Trade Queensland 2013 International Network Dinner | Trade Investment Queensland with Trade Commissioners in the Asia Pacific |
| 8 March | Asian Century Business Engagement Plan Info Session | Austrade Brisbane |
| 15 March | Members private meeting with Australian Senior Trade Commissioner to the Philippines | Austrade Brisbane and CCIAP |
| 15 March | Philippine Infrastructure Briefing Session by Anthony Waymouth, Australian Senior Trade Commissioner to the Philippines | Trade Investment Queensland Supported by CCIAP |
| 6 April | Official Re-dedication of City Hall | Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk |
| 2 May | International Student Friendship Ceremony | Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk |
| 8 May | Doing Business in the Philippines Seminar – Guest Speakers HE Belen Anota, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Tourism Attaché and Philippine Trade Attaché | Hosted by CCIAP Sponsored by Ernst & Young Brisbane |
| 9 May | CCIAP Representation to attend a Courtesy Call to the Lord Mayor by the Philippine Ambassador Belen Anota at the Brisbane City Hall | Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk |
| 9 May | CCIAP Representation at the Queensland Government Official Luncheon for Philippine Ambassador Belen Anota held at the Speaker’s Dining Room, Parliamentary Annexe | Mr Ray Stevens MP, Assistant Minister to the Premier on e-government |
| 11 May | Participant and Taskforce Advisor to Queensland Filipino Women Achievement Awards Gala with Philippine Ambassador Anota | QFAWAA Taskforce 2013 Supported by the Queensland Philippine Consulate Office for the Philippine Embassy |
| 24 May | Participant, contributed to its organisation, participated in the selection of candidates to the Annual Lord Mayor Multicultural Round Table Multicultural Business Awards and Gala Dinner | Brisbane City Council Office of the Lord Mayor International Unit |
| 30 May | ‘Doing Business in the Philippines’ Presentation at the May Business Breakfast Networking Event Discuss proposed Sister Chamber Agreement |
Brisbane South West Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| 5 June | Participant to welcome to Brisbane Taiwan Rotary Group led by Mr Jim Sheu, Taiwanese Honorary Ambassador | Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk |
| 12 June | CCIAP Representation to the Official Philippine Independence Day Celebration | Honourary Philippine Consul for Queensland |
| 28-29 June | ‘Thy Womb’ Gala Screening | CCIAP (organiser and host) |
| 12 July | CCIAP Representation at Paul Mariano (CCIAP Cultural Director) Graduation and Valedictorian Address at Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre. | Southbank Institute of TAFE |
| 26 August | CCIAP Business Networking Event, Information Session on Lean Procurement and its Advantages and Signing of SWCCI CCIAP Sister Chamber Agreement | CCIAP Sponsored by Tactical Procurement and Servcorp |
| 9-11 September | Participant Asia Pacific Cities Summit 2013, Kaohsiung Taiwan, CCIAP President met with Mayors of Caloocan City and Batangas City at the Summit | Kaohsiung City Government |
| 24 September | CCIAP Representation to a Reception in honour of Delegates attending the second meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations hosted by Australia | Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AC, Governor of Queensland at the Government House |
| 17 October | CCIAP Representation at the Launch of the Brisbane Business Excellence Roundtables | Brisbane Enterprise Centre |
| 24 October | CCIAP Representation at the Lord Mayor of Brisbane’s Civic Reception for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) International Nomination’s Council | Brisbane Marketing, Brisbane City Council |
| 7 December | CCIAP AGM ‘Help for the Philippines’ fund raising event to raise funds for the victims of the typhoon Haiyan with the Australian Red Cross, |
CCIAP Supported by: – Mr Mark Stewart MP, State Member for Sunnybank – Lord Mayor Graham Quirk – Cr Steve Huang, Macgregor Ward Councillor – Mr. Alan Grummitt, Honourary Philippine Consul for Queensland – Mrs. Agnes Whiten, Chair Ethnic Communities Council for Queensland – Australian Red Cross |
| 11 December | CCIAP Representation to the Asia Pacific Screen Awards Reception & Academy Induction by Jack Thompson | Lord Mayor Graham Quirk Brisbane Marketing, Brisbane City Council |
| 12 December | CCIAP Representation to the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) 2013 | Lord Mayor Graham Quirk Brisbane Marketing, Brisbane City Council Organised by APSA |
The dedication and commitment by the Chamber’s Board of Directors are exemplary despite their business, professional and life demands, to ensure our Chamber runs smoothly on a day to day, week to week and month to month basis. The spirit of volunteerism, teamwork and “giving back” to the countries (Australia and the Philippines) is present and clearly demonstrated amongst us.
In the year ahead, with the help of the newly elected Board of Directors and members, our Chamber plans to:
- Conduct quarterly business networking and information sessions/business forums;
- Hold a business and trade mission to the Philippines in Q3, 2014 in conjunction with Brisbane South West Chamber of Commerce, Trade Investment Queensland and Austrade
- Hold the ‘Mabuhay Festival’ in Q4, 2014 (September)
Most importantly, we will continue to be active in linking our members to our very expansive and valuable business and community network throughout Australia and the Philippine at business, academic and government levels.
I would like to thank the CCIAP Team, the members of our hardworking Board of Directors:
- Riza Clout, Vice President
- Xavier Villagonzallo, Secretary
- Dan Clout, Treasurer
- Jachin Navarro, Director Membership
- Ed Havelock, Director Public Affairs
- Paul ‘Chino’ Mariano, Cultural Director
- Gina Luck, Director International Trade Promotions
My thanks also extend to our members who continue to support us by their continued membership and in kind contributions.
I look forward to the year ahead and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.
I now table this report.
Connie da Cunha
President
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Australia Philippines Inc