The bid to form a united Australian chamber of commerce representing the business interests of Australian companies in greater China has received a boost following the annual general meetings of the Australian chambers of commerce operating in Mainland China and Hong Kong.

At the end of June, members of the Hong Kong & Macau, Shanghai and Beijing Australian Chambers of Commerce voted in favour of continuing to work towards creating an ‘AustCham Greater China’ national peak organization.

The concept of a national China Australia Chamber of Commerce has long been discussed by the Australian community in China and a memorandum of understanding between the three founding chambers was signed by representatives from AustCham Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in December 2009.

Since 2009, the three chambers have increased their level of co-operation commencing with the Australia China Business Awards – an almost 20-year annual initiative of AustCham Hong

Kong which was hosted for the first time in Beijing in 2009 and a year later, in Shanghai.

Most recently, AustCham Beijing and AustCham Shanghai jointly released a financial services working paper in the hope of better engaging Australian businesses in the financial services sector with Chinese regulators.

Describing the formation of AustCham Greater China as an historic occasion, AustCham Shanghai Chairman Mr David Keir said the new organization would significantly enhance the services chambers in the region could provide to their members, and “materially impact the broader Australia-China business engagement.”

As founding members of the new organization, AustCham Hong Kong & Macau, AustCham Beijing and AustCham Shanghai have all appointed two representatives each for the new AustCham Greater China board.

The new board comprises, from Shanghai: Westpac’s Andrew Whitford and BlueScope Steel’s Bob Moore; from Beijing: McKinsey & Co’s Rob Campbell and Knauf Plasterboard’s Mark Norris. From Hong Kong, Gina McLellan, Director – Asia for Talent2 and Mike P. Beckingham, General Manager – HK Branch for National Australia Bank Ltd.

An external Founding Chair (who is not a director of the founding chambers) is yet to be appointed. It is anticipated other Australian chambers of commerce operating in China will be invited to elect one representative each to the Greater China board as the organization takes shape.

Mr Whitford, who has been a driving force to the initial development of the project, said a national organisation would amplify and better coordinate the separate activities of the individual local AustChams, which would continue to remain entirely independent.

“AustCham Greater China will be a national platform to present a stronger and more unified voice for the Australian business community within the Greater China region,” he said.

“Most importantly, it will provide tangible benefits to AustCham members including reciprocal rights for AustCham members in different territories, and improved membership services through more efficient use of resources. ■

* To read more about the initiatives of AustCham Greater China, click here.