MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
I would like to take this opportunity to briefly review the past year and update you on where we are with some of our initiatives. While much of the focus in 2011 was on governance reform, AIBC had a very successful year in terms of contribution to the policy debate and the caliber of speakers at Australia India Addresses.
The successful organisation of the Joint Business Council meeting in Sydney immediately prior to the Joint Ministerial Council of the two trade ministers has set the tone for AIBC’s engagement with the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) process between Australia and India. AIBC’s submission on CECA to DFAT has been well received and we will continue to play an important role in its development. We are also looking at providing feedback to the Indian Government about issues that need to be addressed to facilitate better trade links between the two countries. Our submission to the Migration Review has also attracted request for further consultation with the AIBC.
The caliber of speakers at the Australia India Addresses is always a benchmark for the value we provide to our members, and 2011 has been a high mark in this regard. Events around the country attracted Former Prime Minister Hon. Bob Hawke and Victorian Premier Hon. Ted Baillieu and a number of Federal Ministers, viz, Resources, Energy and Tourism Minister Hon. Martin Ferguson, Trade Minister Hon. Craig Emerson and Immigration and Citizenship Minister Hon. Chris Bowen.
The year ended with the very welcome news on the uranium front – a development that will no doubt take the business and strategic relationship between the two countries to a new level. Many members of the AIBC contributed to the advocacy of this policy shift at various forums.
Finally, I would like to provide you a brief report on where we are with the process of governance reform. Following on from the Special General Meeting in Sydney on 9 November 2011 at which the members approved a new constitution and for the AIBC to be incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, we have undertaken the following activities. The NSW Department of Fair Trading has approved the transfer of assets of the unincorporated entity to the incorporated entity. Application for incorporation has been filed with ASIC and all the necessary information provided to them. We expect the formalities of incorporation to be completed very early in the new year. The board-elect of AIBC met in Canberra on 17 December to progress many issues, and it will again meet on 20 January 2012. The board also discussed the process and time line for the election of the national office bearers. Subject to the intermediate steps being completed, we expect to hold the election on 4 April 2012, with call for nominations to go out on 27 February and the election notice to go out on 7 March 2012. We will provide the exact details of the nomination and election process after the board has met on 20 January 2012.
On behalf of the Board elect of the AIBC, I would like to sincerely thank you for your cooperation, support and feedback you have provided to various requests for information, often at short notice. I look forward to working with you in 2012 to progress the many things that we have begun.
Arun Sharma
National Chairman Pro-Tem
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