• Mr Digby Bossley - Carter Holt Harvey
• Barry Sowman - ANZ Bank
• Mr Mike Walsh - Colonial Fiji
• Mr Bevin Severinsen - Mark One Apparel
• Mr Raman Dahia - Footwear Industries
• Mike Chapman - Westpac Banking
• Warwick Downing - NZ Trade & Enterprise
• Ms Lisa Apted - KPMG
• Mr Josefa Tale (alternate to Watson Seeto) - Air Pacific Ltd
• Ms Elenoa Ravai - FTIB

• H.E. Adrian Simcock            -         NZ High Commission
• Barrie Sweetman                -         Munro Leys
• Kevin Farrington                 -         Air New Zealand
• Frances Ligalevu                 -         FTIB (Secretary)
• Lailun Khan                        -         FTIB

Chairman welcomed the members to the first Executive meeting for the year.

The minutes was moved by Mike Chapman and unanimously accepted by members.

• Bevin Severinsen briefed members on the following with regard to the website:
  
  1. 12 month website hosting fees have been paid;
  
  2. TeJos Enterprise Limited have been contracted to look after website maintenance work;
  
  3. Confirmed information pertaining to the 2004 Joint conference will be posted on the website;
  
  4. It was suggested that the NZ/Fiji Business council be approached to split website costs as the NZ Trade & Enterprise have indicated their non-commitment to sponsor this year. Members agreed that sponsors be approached to cover costs incurred in maintaining/ upgrading information on the website
  
  

• Accounts for November and December 2003 were circulated. Members unanimously accepted accounts for the specified period.
  
  
• Chairman informed members that the council's accounts would be submitted to Ernst & Young for annual auditing.

• Deposit payment of $5,000 has been paid to Sheraton Resorts to secure venue, Sheraton room rates still stands at FJ$255 plus VAT;
  
• Room bookings have now been dropped to 50 instead of 80 as initially agreed, this is due to members of the NZ Trade delegation opting to find accommodation else where;
• It was suggested that room rates be subsidised for local delegates as done in previous years;
• Invitation letters has be sent to Mr Ralph Norris (CEO, Air New Zealand), Prime Minister, Hon Laisenia Qarase, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Kaliopate Tavola, Minister for Commerce, Business Development & Investment, Hon. Tomasi Vuetilovoni.  Barrie Sweetman is to make contact with a representative of Turners & Growers, letter will be sent out once the person has been identified. A letter is to be written to Mr Qereqeretabua inviting him as an after dinner speaker;
• Contact has been made with the NZ/Fiji Business council on the theme and venue of this years conference;
• The business council is set up as a Merchant dealer with ANZ Bank which should facilitate online registrations, forms will be posted on the website, it was noted that each financial transaction attracts a 5% fee;
• Lisa Apted informed committee that the business council has to be registered with the IRD for VAT;
• It was suggested that joint conference advertisement also include day delegates;
• Joint conference flyers with confirmed details should be e-mailed to council members;

• Mike Walsh informed members that the Grant Scheme proposal for next funding allocation has been submitted to the NZAID office in Wellington, he mentioned that the $100,000 grant request would cover a 2 year period.
• First round of Grant Scheme advertisement's were published in the Fiji Times and Daily Post on 7^th and 11^th February, 2004.  The secretariat has received 3 applications to date.  Applications close on Friday 27^th February, 2004.
  
  

• Mr Tuikoro, FTIB Marketing Manager informed members of a TCF mission to New Zealand at the end of March.  The mission is organized by the FTIB and is to coincide with the Prime Minister's visit to New Zealand;
  
  
• Lisa Apted informed members on a Joint Private Sector Consultative Group meeting with the Minister of Finance and FIRCA officials to voice concerns over the lack of consultative process prior to the endorsement of the Income Tax (Budget Amendment) Bill 2004;
  
  
• Mike Chapman informed members that his term is up and will be introducing his replacement Mr John Pawelski soon, Mr Chapman is to come back to the council on his availability for a farewell luncheon.
  
  

The meeting ended at 9.25am.

*Fiji-NZ Business Council - supporting and promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation
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