Fiji-New Zealand Business Council

MINUTES OF THE 14TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE FIJI/NEW ZEALAND BUSINESS COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 7th APRIL 2004 AT 5.30PM AT THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL RESIDENCE, RATU SUKUNA ROAD

1. Digby Bossley - Carter Holt Harvey
2. H.E Adrian Simcock - New Zealand High Commission
3. Durga Prasad - Prasads Export
4. Jim Clifford - TQM Environmental Services
5. Samuela Savou - Vodafone Fiji Ltd
6. Peter Watts - Fletcher Construction
7. Anil Kumar - Clyde Equipment
8. Vijay Sharma - Sharma Architects
9. Jona Dumaru - Neptune Shipping
10. Warwick Downing - New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
11. Mahesh Chaudhary - Pioneer Supplies
12. Mike Walsh - Colonial Fiji
13. Janita Prasad - Kontiki Capital
14. Sheronika Chandra - Kontiki
15. Lailun Khan - FTIB
16. David Aidney - Williams & Goslings
17. Isireli Koyamaibole - Min of Commerce, Business Dev & Investment
18. Lisa Apted - KPMG
19. Bevin Severinsen - Mark One Apparel
20. Barrie Sweetman - Munro Leys
21. Keshwan Nadan - Kaks Marketing
22. Raman Dahia - Footwear Industries
23. John Pawelski - Westpac Bank
24. Sumesh Singh - Ram Sami & Sons
25. Ken Cowie - Basic Industries
26. Sanjay Chand - Classic Printers
27. Justin King - Qantas

1. Kevin Farrington - Air New Zealand
2. Watson Seeto - Air Pacific Limited
3. Mr John Scott - Goodman Fielder Limited
4. Mr Terry Watson - Rena Distributors
5. Mr Danny Rees - Pacific Forum Line
6. Mr Mike Upperton - Colonial National Bank
7. Mr Daniel Elisha - Elisha Engineering
8. Mr John May - Fiji Sugar Marketing Co Ltd
9. Mr Viliame Gavoka - Fiji Visitors Bureau
10. Mr Andrew Flynn - Hiyway Stabilisers
11. Mr Ranjit Solanki - Ranjit Garments
12. Mr Gordon Jenkins - Rawlinson Jenkins
13. Mr Natwarlal Vagh - Vagh & Co
14. Mr Martin Darveniza - Tabua Investments
15. Mr Colin Tai - Amazon Limited
16. Mr Dan Costello - Beachcomber Cruises
17. Mr Kiran Hari - Paradise Garments
18. Mr Prakash Chand - Prakash Industries
19. Mr Ramesh Solanki - United Apparel
20. Mr Gurdeo Singh - Motor Spare Limited
21. Mr Arvind Lal - Dhee Distributors
22. Mr Aarvind Solanki - Dominion Wire & Cables


	The Chairman welcomed members and thanked them for their presence.


	The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 2nd April 2003, was confirmed by a motion moved by Mr Mike Walsh and seconded by Mr Raman Dahia.


	There were no matters arising.

	President's Report The 2003 Presidents report was circulated to members. The outgoing President thanked the committee members as well as sub committee members for their support during his term as President of the Council. He conveyed his appreciation to His Excellency the High Commissioner, Mr Adrian Simcock for his invaluable support to the Council. The motion to adopt the President's report was moved by Mr Barry Sweetman and seconded by Ms Lisa Apted.

	The Chairman informed the members that the Council now 2 operating accounts; He added that the decline in membership fees were due to the delay's in receiving annual subscriptions for the 2003 period; The motion to adopt the audited accounts was moved by Mr Ken Cowie and seconded by Mr Warwick Downing;


	The following were elected: Mr Bevin Severinsen - Mark One Apparel (President) Executive Committee Members: Mr Barrie Sweetman - Munro Leys Mr Warwick Downing - NZ Trade & Enterprise Mr Mike Walsh - Colonial Fiji Ms Lisa Apted - KPMG Mr John Pawelski - Westpac Banking Corporation Mr Kevin Farrington - Air New Zealand Mr Watson Seeto - Air Pacific Mrs Lailun Khan - FTIB Mr Cecil Browne - ANZ Bank Mr Raman Dahia - Footwear Industries

	The members unanimously agreed that Ernst & Young be appointed again as council auditors.


	The Fiji Trade & Investment Bureau were again re-appointed as the council Secretariat.

The Chairman informed the members of the 14th Joint Conference which was to be held at the Sheraton Royal, Nadi on 23rd & 24th July, 2004. He added that we were fortunate to have a New Zealand Trade Delegation headed by Hon. Jim Sutton who are also expected to participate in this years Joint Conference.

The committee is now in the process of identifying key speakers.

Registration fee per delegates is $200 plus VAT and $100 plus VAT for their spouses.

A 25% discount is available for Fiji participants, should they register before the end of May, 2004.

Mr Isireli Koyamaibole, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Commerce, Business Development & Investment informed the members on the present review of the Foreign Investment approval process. The main objective of this exercise is to see a lot more efficiency and less bureaucracy in the approval process.

The Chairman thanked His Excellency for the use of his premises.

The meeting ended at 5.50pm.