Chinese New Year of the Ox Economic Dinner Forum speech

Kung He Fat Choy, Gong Xi Fa Cai

 Happy Year of the Ox to you all again.

Let me start by saying a warm welcome to Prime Minister Honourable John Key, my colleagues the Honourable Tim Groser, the Honourable Dr Jonathan Coleman, Melissa Lee and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi; Charles Finny from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, David Smol from the Ministry of Economic Development, Tim Gibson from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Mervin Singham from the Office of Ethnic Affairs.

I would like to thank New Zealand Chinese Business Chamber chairman Terry Yang, Sammy and the executive team for coordinating this important business forum, which opens lines of dialogue between Chinese business leaders and the Government in Parliament for the first time in this format.

Also, let me take a moment to introduce my staff, Angela Leung, Ashlin Chand and Kristian South, who are here tonight to assist you.

This evening's forum is historical because it serves as a turning point of engagement between Chinese business people and the Government.

It is no longer a case of the politicians speaking and Chinese business people listening. It is no longer the Government departments' responsibility to jut keep Chinese business people informed.

It is now a case of getting Chinese business people involved in developing policy and solutions. In this case it is working together towards facing the economic challenges.

Many of the business people gathered here today and also many others from within the wider Chinese community have valuable connections overseas and many of you have investments overseas, especially in China.

Chinese are well known for being enterprising and entrepreneurial and I would like to know how New Zealand, our country, can tap into your skills, your ideas and your networks.

Also, perhaps more importantly, I would like us to discuss ways to get some of our business people to redirect some of their overseas investments back home here.

I would also like to hear ideas on how can we ensure that potential investors have all the information they need when considering whether to invest in New Zealand.

I look forward to hearing your ideas shortly after the Prime Minister officially opens up this evening's forum to discussion at around 7.30pm.

It will then be your time to have your say and I would want the discussion to be frank and open.

In the meantime, please help yourselves to the food at the table. Tea and coffee will be served at 8.40pm and Hon Tim Groser and Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman will address the forum after that.