With the early snowfall in Beijing and winter just around the corner, we've collated the latest AustCham member news, events, podcasts and Daily Talking Points to keep you up-to-date as you keep warm over the weekend.
November 5th
As part of AustCham’s recently established E-Commerce and Retail Working Group, and the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business’ (CKGSB) strong education and research focus on the e-commerce industry, we together co-hosted a2015 E-Commerce Forum. The event focused around the rapid growth of E-commerce, mobile, and opportunities for Australian SME’s. The guest speakers for the evening were Bryan Carr, Ceo of SmartTrans, Allen Qu, CEO & China Founder of Netconcepts and Pablo Recio Gracia, Manager Director of Eibens.
November 9th AustCham’s General Manager Nick Coyle was proud to open theAustCham Beijing 2015 Education Forum. The speakers present on the evening were Katherine Vickers, Minister Counsellor, Education & Research at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, David Dukes, Austrade's North Asia Education Commissioner, Nicholas Dwyer, the CEO and Founding Principal at Haileybury International School, and Ricky Niu, Senior Manager China at UTS International.
November 12th AustCham Beijing was proud to host The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources at a breakfast with representatives from agricultural and water resource industries based in both Australia and China. Minister Joyce spoke about Australia as an excellent supplier of quality goods to China. Emphasising the strong, mutually beneficial trade links between China and Australia, as G20 countries with a free-trade agreement.
The second half of the month was significant for one of our Foundation members, National Australia Bank (NAB), as they formally opened their first Beijing Branch on November 17. The opening was officiated by Group CEO, Andrew Thorburn, and Group Executive Business Banking, Angela Mentis. The opening was attended by over 150 key institutional customers as well as Australian government and trade representatives.
AustCham Beijing was featured in the media with AustCham Beijing Treasurer and Managing Partner of LehmanBrown International Accountants, Russell Browninterviewed on CCTV News on the topic of China-UK trade relations, and the significance of Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the UK.
Tony Voutas, a former Board Member and Chair of AustCham Beijing was also featured in the media last month. At the Beijing celebratory event (held in September) marking 40 years of PNG Independence, the PNG Ambassador, His Excellency Chris Mero, presented Tony with the Star of Melanesia for his outstanding contribution to PNG during his political career in PNG before coming to China.
AustCham Beijing would also like to apologise to members for technical issues concerning our revamped website. We are currently undergoing a major website update, so please bear with us as we iron out the final kinks.
We do have another event-full calendar planned for the coming month so please stay warm and stay tuned!
If you haven't already followed us on WeChat, we're active Monday-Friday with the latest Australia-China news and event roundup in Beijing.
For more Events, News and all things China-Australia please see below...
This week AustCham Beijing Chair, Tracy Colgan, and General Manager, Nick Coyle, met with the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull MP and International Advisor to Prime Minister, Ms Frances Adamson. During the visit to Canberra, Tracy and Nick spoke with a number of Australian Ministers to discuss future activities with AustCham Beijing and our members.
Photos from AustCham Beijing Events this October & November
FIRB Chairman Breakfast 19 October | Kempinski Hotel Beijing
AustCham Beijing Farewell for Australian Ambassador H.E. Ms. Frances Adamson
19 October | Sofitel Wanda Beijing
AustCham Beijing 2015 Education Forum 9 Novmeber | China World Hotel
Breakfast with The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, Australia's Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
12 November | St. Regis Beijing
As part of our ongoing advocacy efforts, AustCham Beijing has worked closely with the other Australian Chambers in Greater China to develop a comprehensive business survey. The purpose of the survey is to collate your perspective and feedback as an AustCham member, on the current business climate in Greater China and the challenges of operating here. The survey results will be presented to AustCham members, and to Australian and Chinese government officials. AustCham will also draw from the findings to feed into the events of our Working Groups and advocacy activities for 2016.
The questionnaire will close on November 29th.
AustCham has partnered with Millward Brown to develop the survey, and we look forward to releasing the report in early 2016 detailing findings from the survey data.
We appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey!
Working Groups Industry working groups news - here are some of the biggest stories for our industry working groups, drawn from our weekly talking points in November and sources around the world.