2009 closed on a high with the Australia-China Business Awards Gala Dinner. Activities planned for 2010 will ensure the Chamber remains relevant to our members and the greater China-Australia community, writes Roger Wolfe, Chairman.

As we prepare for 2010, AustCham Beijing would like to thank all of our members for their support in 2009. Whilst it was a difficult financial time for many businesses, the Chamber, with the great assistance of the Australian community, successfully built on the momentum gained in 2008 for another highly successful year.

Traditional annual events, including the AustCham Beijing Love Australia Ball and the Golf Day, were great successes and the chance to hear from former and current Australian government ministers generated strong interest in our business events program. The launch of our new website was another important achievement, with the new look site offering added benefits to members.

Additionally, the ongoing growth of our working groups provided members with a regular opportunity to discuss specific aspects of their industries.

I would also like to acknowledge the Chamber’s appreciation of the strong support from our Patron, HE, Dr. Geoff Raby, Australian Ambassador to China, his hard working team at the embassy and the dedicated staff at Austrade. With signs of an economic recovery, there is a feeling of optimism going into 2010 and the Chamber has developed specific strategies aimed at increasing the range of services and benefits available to members.

We have also been in discussions with the Shanghai, Hong Kong & Macau Chambers, and recently announced the AustCham Greater China initiative at the ACBA:09 awards. I would like to formally thank the respective Chairs and their board members at Shanghai, Hong Kong & Macau Chambers for their strong support and commitment to this endeavour. The endeavour involves an agreement to begin cross chamber discussions on establishing AustCham Greater China aimed at delivering tangible and significant benefits to our respective members that include, but are not limited to, consistent national values, ease of access and reciprocal rights for members with operations throughout China, the ability to represent the “Australian business community across Greater China” with the “Chinese Government” as well as provide a single point of contact for the Australian Government at a “One China” level.

We recognise that AustCham Greater China should be “democratic, cost-effective, provide additional services & value to regional AustCham’s, and be the result of evolutionary, not revolutionary change.”
More detail will be provided in due course, however we are all very excited about the potential these discussions will lead to.

I would also like to wish all our members, their families and the greater China- Australian community a safe and festive holiday season.

ACBA:09

The red carpet was rolled out, special guests  came from near and far, fantastic Australian food and wine was on show, and most importantly, the well deserving winners took home the trophies. I would like to congratulate all Finalists and Winners for their success. There were applications received from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Australia, highlighting the breadth of business excellence taking place across Greater China. Thank you to all our sponsors, without whom the night would not have been possible. Thanks to Major Sponsors CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd and Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Supporting Sponsors Austrade, Global Times and GNS China; and our Food & Beverage Partners China World Hotel, Just Beer and The Wine Republic.

Thank you also to our MC Stephen McDonell and our special guest Jack Thompson whose stories resonated within the entire room.

I would also like to highlight the successful partnership of our three Australian production and event companies, who worked together to provide great support to the event. Thanks to ETG Staging Connections (production and event management), 3 Brave Men (lighting) and Norwest (audio). ■