Members of the India NZ Business Council recently got a chance to meet the newly appointed trade commissioner/consul general designate of NZTE to Mumbai and discuss the trade policies between India and New Zealand that help businesses.
Ralph Hays was happy to have a direct interaction with members that came from different industries. “This was an opportunity for me to discuss with the businesses on the ground, on what their problems are and how we can help them grow," he said.
Hays joined NZTE in 2010 as a business development manager in Spain. In 2013 he was seconded to Brazil to help support the Prime Minister's Mission to South America which then lead on to a full-time position as TC Sao Paulo. He has worked across a range of different industry sectors in New Zealand, Australia, UK and Spain. His recent experience includes working as a management accountant in the food and beverage sector and as a business analyst in the cruise industry.
The industry sectors represented at the event ranged from banking, to winery, education, finance, logistics, infrastructure, and aviation. The dialogue gave some deep insights into the problems faced by INZBC members. A lot of discussion was around the problems being faced in the passing of the FTA.
MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, who also attended the event, congratulated Hays.
He said that both the governments are working very closely for better ties, more so after the last visit of John Key to India and his meeting with Modi.
Wenceslaus Anthony, head of government relations said, “INZBC always try to connect the members and the businesses to the correct government agencies, so that they get the information from the horses mouth. Events like these are an effort in this direction."
INZBC has had good relations with the office of the Trade Commissioner in Mumbai since it’s inception. When the office was inaugurated in 2008, INZBC played an integral part in the opening of office. INZBC conducted a business summit, where business leaders came from Mumbai and Delhi to attend it.
“We have had a very good relationship with all the past trade commissioners," said Anthony, "where we have invited them to speak to our members on their appointment and also get their experience during or after their tenure. This has become a tradition."