PH Embassy Advances Economic Diplomacy in New Zealand

Wellington & Auckland #DCham Advisers at the Philippine Ambassador’s residence, from left: [1] Mr. Kim Campbell, Employers and Manufacturers Association CEO, CB Norwood Ltd Director, Douglas Pharmaceuticals Director, and BusinessNZ Councillor; [2] Mr. John Milford, Wellington Chamber of Commerce (WCC) CEO, and Business Central and Export NZ Central CEO; [3] Mr. David Catty, Malvern Link Ltd Owner and ASEAN-New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC) Executive Director; [4] Ms. Renilda Saguil-Ventura, Kiaora Produce Owner/Director; [5] Mr. Joshua Tan, WCC International Trade Officer; [6] Mr. Alberto Tuason, Zelati Freezeria Maestro Gelatiere/Sorbetiere; [7] Ms. Agnes Espineda, Tactics Managing Director and newly elected ANZBC Philippine Chair; [8] Ambassador of the Philippines to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo; [9] Ms. Sarah Sherriff, Fix & Fogg Head of Export and Finance; [10] Mr. Anthony Belsham, Fronde Systems Group Limited CEO; [11] Mr. Phil O’Reilly, Iron Duke Partners Ltd Managing Director, APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Member, OECD Board of Business Chair, B20 Senior Member; and [12] Philippine Embassy First Secretary Querobine Deapera Laccay. (Wellington PE photo)

WELLINGTON 23 January 2019 — The Philippine Embassy in Wellington has laid the foundations for more dynamic Philippine-New Zealand economic diplomacy in 2019 on 28 December 2018.

While Filipinos are the most numerous Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nationality in the country and are a vital asset in the Kiwi workforce, the Philippines lags behind other Southeast Asian countries in terms of bilateral trade, tourism and investment.  The Embassy has therefore resolved to redouble its efforts to advance Philippine business in Aotearoa.

The Embassy’s approach begins with concretely deepening its relationship with the NZ Private Sector, Local Governments and Academe. Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last March 2018 with the ASEAN-NZ Business Council (ANZBC) for enhancing cooperation.

The Embassy had also recently joined the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce as an institutional member. The Hutt Valley is a component of the Wellington Capital Region, and the locality which has particularly strong links with the Philippines.

Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace, a staunch friend of the Filipino community, recently played host to a business and disaster management delegation from Barangay Wack-Wack of Mandaluyong City in September 2018.

The Embassy is also collaborating with the newly-formed NZ Southeast Asia Centre for Pacific Excellence (SEACAPE) led by Victoria University of Wellington. A delegation of New Zealand High School students will travel to Manila next year under SEACAPE’s Business Challenge project. The Asia-NZ Foundation runs a successful “Young Business Leaders Initiative” (YBLI) benefitting ASEAN and Filipino entrepreneurs.

Ambassador Domingo has also recruited “Volunteer Ambassadors” or #VAMBAs from among the 60,000 strong Filipino community in the country to help promote Philippine-New Zealand business, particularly in the tourism sector. 

Advising and supporting the Embassy’s economic diplomacy efforts is its “Diplomatic Chamber” or #DCham composed of Kiwi and Filipino Local Government and Business leaders and advocates. The #DCham is convened periodically by the Embassy in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and in other New Zealand localities to network and generate business opportunities.

It also seeks to advance United Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation  and ASEAN business initiatives in the Philippine-New Zealand context, such as the UN Global Compact, Global CEO Alliance and ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN).

All in all, the Embassy is gratified that there is now a new momentum for Philippine-New Zealand business, and looks forward to a progressive and mutually rewarding 2019. END

For more information, visit www.wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philembassy.org.nz or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNZ/

Logos of the Philippine Embassy in New Zealand Economic Diplomacy stakeholders (clockwise from upper left): Diplomatic Chamber / Volunteer Ambassadors, Asia-New Zealand Foundation, Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence, Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, ASEAN-NZ Business Council. (Wellington PE photo)

Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo dialoguing with #DCham advisors, Mr. Anthony Belsham (left) and Messrs. Phil O’Reilly and Alberto Tuason (right). (Wellington PE photo)

Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo presenting Mr. Kim Campbell with a recognition medal for his service as the Philippine Chair of the ANZBC. Also shown in the photo are (to the right of the Ambassador) Mr. David Catty, ANZBC Executive Director and Ms. Sarah Sherriff— Fix & Fogg Head of Export and Finance. (Wellington PE photo)