Events in 2006

 

Workshop on Marketing and Communication Strategies for Successful Business Operations in the Australian Market

 

(L to R) : Dr. K.C. Chakrabarthy, Chairman & Managing Director, Indian Bank; Mr. Adrian Cropley, CEO-Principal Consultant, Cropley Communications Pty Ltd, Melbourne; Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber; Mr. Simon Covill, ABC, Corporate Communications Manager at Cuscal; and Mr. Bish Mukherjee, ABC, President, Misha Network PR.

 

The Chamber, as part of its mission to help Indian companies develop an appropriate strategy and an effective business model to make their operations succeed in Australian market, organized a one-day Workshop on “Marketing and Communication Strategies for Successful Business Operations in the Australian Market – Australian Case Studies” on December 05, 2006, at Hotel GRT Grand, Chennai.

 

Dr. K.C. Chakrabarthy, Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Bank, who inaugurated the Workshop, said that “India and Australia have a great future because of our strategic presence in the eastern hemisphere and from the Australian skill shortage to the Indian price advantage, everything seems to foretell a business relationship with immense potential”. He also pointed out that “Demographic divide is an advantage to India where 50% of population is less than 25 years and 30% is less than 23 years as skillful and employable. India and Australia are nearer and can prosper for the benefit of both countries and their subjects”.

 

He also assured his Bank’s full support for Indian entrepreneurs for a successful trade with Australian Market.

 

Earlier Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber, in his welcome address, remarked that over 17 Australian companies are now operating back offices in India with excellent growth prospects and their marketing strategy plays an important role in their success story.

 

In a series of lively and interactive sessions, peppered with case studies, the three outstanding and internationally reputed corporate communication experts from Australia, Mr. Simon Covill, Mr. Adrian Cropley and Mr. Bish Mukherjee took delegates through the basics of Aussie attitude, language and even dress habits. They explained the importance of hierarchy that characterizes Australian business etiquette.

 

Mr. Simon Covill, ABC, Corporate Communications Manager at Cuscal, started his presentation with an outlook on Australian new generation. He explained the importance of strategic planning in marketing, branding and business communication. He briefed the practical impact of an efficient marketing plan and explained the tools and skills required in group communication and presentation, with case studies.

 

Using the experience of Infosys as an example, Mr. Adrian Cropley, CEO-Principal Consultant, Cropley Communications Pty Ltd, Melbourne, said that since the Australian market is small and highly competitive, targeted marketing plans and activities are crucial. Take advantage of local advice and partnership wherever possible, he suggested. He pointed out the ‘Checklist’ service developed by the Australian Government to help new entrants through the procedures involved in setting up business in Australia. He emphasized on strategy planning in change and crisis communication, tools and skills in interpersonal communication skills and implementing marketing within the business.

 

Mr. Bish Mukherjee, ABC, President, Misha Network PR, said, Australia is the easiest place in the world to start a business and that if all the legal documents are ready, a new business can be started in 48 hours. He explained in detail, the procedures of starting a new business, the Australian approach to Indian business, stakeholder engagement, Business Etiquette and presented some Australian case studies.

 

The concluding remarks were made by Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber.

 

The Programme was co-sponsored by Tata Consultancy Services and the Business Line was the media partner.

 

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New South Wales seeks investment from Indian companies

 

(L to R) : Mr. Mohan Monteiro, President, Australia-India Business Council, NSW Chapter; Mr. Warwick Glen, Executive Director; Ms. Linda Taylor, Manager, Department of State and Regional Development, NSW; and Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber

 

The State of New South Wales has been the engine that powers the economic growth of greater part of Australia.  Its high profile capital Sydney  is the most important metropolis in Australia brimming with economic activity and resplendent in the success of Sydney Olympics in 2000.

 

NSW viewed as an attractive destination for foreign investment is now aggressively reaching out to the world.  Mr Warwick Glen, Executive Director and Ms Linda  Taylor, Manager, Department of State and Regional Development along with Mr Mohan Monteiro, President of Australia-India Business Council, NSW Chapter, visited Chennai on November 30, 2006.  The Chamber facilitated an interactive meeting at Hotel Taj Coromandel that evening where Mr Glen  and Ms Taylor met a cross section of Chamber members seeking strong business links with Australia.

 

What turned out was a lively session and a number of issues were raised.  The relative small size of Australian market, many felt, did not make a full fledged office affordable  for small and medium size Indian companies, and they sought alternative ways to reach out to the Australian market.  A consortium of several Indian companies setting up office jointly operating through an Australian Consultant in the initial period, and  creation of a facility for incubation, effective joint ventures/collaborations were some of the ideas that came up.  It was also felt that the time zone with a time difference of 4-1/2  to 5 hours between Indian and Australian cities was a major resource to attract cross  country investments – Call Centres and BPO related services.

 

The participants commended the role of the Department of State and Regional Development in assisting several Indian companies visiting Sydney and seeking business opportunities.

 

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Western Australia seeks Professionals and Skilled Migrants from India

 

Mr. Bruno Delfante of the State Migration Centre, Small Business Development Corporation, Perth, making his presentation.

 

Some 43,000 jobs, across a wide spectrum of activities, would be created by existing and new projects in Western Australia over the next ten years.  “These vacancies will be filled up both by Australian nationals and those from abroad” said Mr. Bruno Delfante of the State Migration Centre at the Perth-based Small Business Development Corporation, at a meeting organized jointly by the Western Australian Trade Office – India, Chennai and the Chamber on November 27, 2006 at Hotel Residency Towers, Chennai. He said the economic growth and a strong outlook ahead drove the demand for the workforce in the State.  Moreover “ we (in Western Australia) are an ageing population…. That is another reason for (seeking) skilled migrants.”

 

India, he said, was Western Australia’s top market for seeking skilled migrants, overtaking the U.K. market during the last one year.

 

Apart from the requisite academic qualification and experience, knowledge of English was essential for such migrants. Those planning to migrate must clear the English proficiency test.  The levels required for professionals such as engineers, doctors and accountants are relatively higher.  English knowledge was necessary, not merely from the communication perspective, but to understand safety rules and regulations, Mr. Delfante said.

 

Urging migration agents in India to get in touch with the State Migration Centre before processing the applications, he said the organization was a one-stop shop for skilled and business migrants.  Business opportunities were available in the areas of services, tourism, food and beverages and in the manufacturing sector.

 

The Small Business Development Corporation, according to Mr. Delfante, had drawn up a list of priority skills required in Western Australia.  It included refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics, engineers, accountants, chefs, fitters, plumbers, bricklayers and plasterers.

 

Mr. C Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber said India figured in the list of five countries identified by Australia for sourcing manpower.

 

Mr. K.V.V. Rajan, Senior Marketing Advisor, Western Australian Trade Office – India, Chennai, proposed a vote of thanks.

 

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South Australian Trade Mission to India

 

Mr. Brian Hayes QC (extreme right), Chairman, Australia India Business Council, receiving a memento from Mr. K.M. Mammen, President of the Chamber. Mr. P. Gopalakirshna, Secretary of the Chamber, is also seen.

 

The Chamber hosted a reception in honour of the South Australian Trade Mission led by Mr. Brian Hayes QC, Chairman, Australia India Business Council and accompanied by Hon. Mr. Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia on 31st October 2006 at Hotel Connemara, Chennai.

 

Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber, in his introductory remarks, said that the Chamber led a trade delegation to Australia in last September and Adelaide was the highpoint of the visit. He also thanked the Australia India Business Council for their valuable support in making the Chamber Delegation a success.

 

Mr. K.M. Mammen, Director of the Chamber, welcomed the members of the delegation members and other guests, observed that South Australia has been taking pains to build up close relationship between SA and Southern India. Both regions have a strong base in Automobile Industry. It is also important to notice the fact that Cricket is a great passion in both Tamil Nadu and South Australia and both Chennai and Adelaide are great centres of learning.

 

He also expressed happiness that the South Australia set up their trade office right here in Chennai.

 

Mr. Brian Hayes QC, Chairperson, Australia-India Business Council and Leader of the Mission explained the objectives of the Mission and introduced the members of his team. After that each members made a short presentation about their company and products.

 

Mr. P. Gopalakrishna, Secretary of the Chamber, proposed a vote of thanks.

 

 The delegation included the following members:

 

  1. Mr. Brian Hayes QC, Chairman, Australia India Business Council

  2. Mr. Tas Mitani, Mitani Products, Australia

  3. Ms. Danuta Kostrzewska, Dan USA, Australia

  4. Mr. Peter Barrie, Flinders Ranges Premium Grain Pty Ltd, Australia

  5. Mr. Tim Jarvis, SOA Environmental, Australia

  6. Ms. Deb Lavis, Eco Tile Factory, Australia

  7. Mr. Prashanth Pavithran, Precise Tooling, Australia

 

The programme was co-sponsored by the Hindustan Group of Institutions.

 

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Annual Day

 

H.E. Mr. John McCarthy (second from left), High Commissioner of Australia, presenting a memento to Mr. M.K. Kumar, founder President of the Chamber. Mr. K.M. Mammen (extreme left), President and Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber, are also seen.

 

H.E. Mr. John McCarthy, High Commissioner of Australia was the Chief Guest at the 17th Annual Day of the Chamber was held on 10th October 2006 at Hotel Connemara, Chennai.

 

In his address, Mr. McCarthy remarked that the bilateral trade between India and Australia is set to cross AU $10 billion this year. “Things are going pretty well…but there is always room to do more”, said Mr. McCarthy, while describing India as Australia’s fastest growing export market with an average growth, over five years, of 31.5 percent a year. However, the key components of relationship lay in energy and resources and services, Australians are great miners. We like to see more Australian companies invest in energy in India, especially in the mining industry where they can help the Indian industries expand, he said. He also pointed out that Australia is major exporter of coal, gold and diamonds to India. While coal fuelled the Indian economy, gold and diamonds created jobs. Infrastructure development, retailing, education and services that involved Indian companies setting up operations in Australia and Australian firms devolving their operations to India were the significant features of the economic ties, he added.

 

Referring to South India, Mr. McCarthy said there was more to the region that just information technology. Perhaps less recognized, but also crucially important has been the industrial transformation in the South.

 

Earlier, Mr. K.M. Mammen, President of the Chamber in his welcome address said Australian Consulate in Chennai would be opened shortly which would set a dramatic pace for trade relations and Australia’s access to global markets and technology combined with India’s cost advantage and skilled labour would revolutionise our agricultural sector. He pointed out that Indo-Australian relationship was steadily growing at several levels – industry, education and government. “India is much more visible in Australia today…the reverse is also true”. The potential for the relations was far greater than its performance. The full potential of the business ties could be unleashed only by a massive flow of technology and investment between the two coutries. “Perhaps more from Australia to India than the other way round,” Mr. Mammen added.

 

In his address on “A Perspective on Indo-Australian Relations”, Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber said there are nearly 80-85 small and medium enterprises in Australia looking for business opportunities in India. At least 25-30 percent of companies in province are studying Indian markets with painstaking efforts. He noted that Indian migrants to Australia had outpaced the Chinese in acquiring diverse skills, even as relations between two countries had entered into a new architecture. There was growing interest about India among small and medium enterprises in Australia, Mr. Chandran added, who was just back after a successful delegation to Australia in last September.

 

Mr. M.K. Kumar, Founder President of the Chamber was facilitated by presentation of a memento by Hon. Mr. John McCarthy in recognition of his contribution to Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce and to the Indo Australian business community in general.

 

In his concluding remarks, Mr. N.C. Sarabeswaran, past President of the Chamber, said the Chamber has been active in promoting economic and trade relations between India and Australia through seminars and workshop.

 

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Business Mission 2006

 

Members of the Mission with some executives of Adelaide Convention Centre.

 

The Chamber organized another successful business mission to Australia in September 2006.  This is the six in a row of business delegations that the Chamber has led to Australia and over 100 Indian companies, mostly small and medium enterprises have participated in them and many of them have established long term and very productive business relations in Australia.

 

Fifteen companies participated in Mission 2006 and interacted with over 80 Australian companies in the three cities – Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.  It was a week long Mission.

 

Melbourne was the first stop, where it began with a lively interactive meeting at South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA), a major manufacturing hub in Victoria,  on September 11 ( an unforgetable day!).  Presentations were made by Mr Paul Dowling, Executive Officer of SEMMA;  Ms Sandra George of South East Network; Mr Ron Ghiggino, Economic Development Manager, City of Greater Dandenong and Mr James Sturgess, Senior Partner PcPherson+Kelly,  a distinguished Law Firm.  The discussions drew the conclusion that due to extensive skill shortage, Australian manufacturing is on decline, but Australian companies have state-of-the-art technologies and better global access than Indian companies.  There are thus synergies where India’s skill availability and cost advantage, can combine well Australia’s strengths and technology to reach out to the whole of Asia Pacific.

 

On September 12, Australia-India Business Council (AIBC), in association with Victoria Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI), organized a well-attended Seminar where the delegates had an opportunity to exchange business ideas with over 50 representatives of Victorian companies.  Three excellent presentations by Mr Eddu Zhao on VECCI, Mr Dameen Lubeek on City of Ballarat ( which is seeking to work closely with Chennai Corporation) and Mr Peter Chaffey, who talked on Melbourne’s increasing profile and its remarkable success in organising the Commonwealth Games 2006.  The next Commonwealth Games 2010 is to be held in New Delhi and many Australian companies are seeking business links with Indian enterprises.

 

 

(L to R) : Mr. Ian Bennett of ABL Ltd.; Mr. Sujan Chinoy, Consul General of India in Sydney and Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber.

 

The next stop was Adelaide.  Mr Barry Salter, the warm, friendly impeccably efficient Executive Manager of Council for International Trade and Commerce SA (CITCSA), had put together a series of events on September 13.  It began with a Welcome Meet at Enterprise House, Unley where the delegates met several members of S.A. business community.  These included Mr Ken Meek, Vice-President of Australia India Business Council, South Australia  and Ms Penny Gale, General Manager, Policy and International Business at Business S.A.  A business matching session followed and this gave an opportunity for visiting delegates to interact with over thirty  of SA companies and to exchange  thoughts on possible business opportunities in India.

 

A visit to the National Wine Centre, a tour of Adelaide Oval and  Adelaide Convention Centre, and some precious moments at Bradman Museum were the other highlights of the Adelaide Programme.  The delegations visit comes  in the wake of  South Australia’s growing presence in India with a full fledged office in Chennai.  Premier Hon. Mike Rann had made three visits to India in the past years and  his easy, relaxed style combined with a strong business sense have made  a deep impression wherever he went in India.

 

 The Delegation spent two full days in Sydney (September 14 and 15) and as in previous years had a series of engagements.  A briefing session at the Indian Consulate where Mr Sujan Chinoy, the Consul General, addressed the delegates and participated in a very useful event organized by Australia  Business Limited  where experiences of  three globally successful Australian companies – Aussiebum,  Barry Group and Appen  - were presented.  The highlight of the Sydney programme, however, was a very successful breakfast meeting organized by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, at the prestigious Four Points Sheraton Hotel. Over 50 representatives from NSW’s Corporate Community participated in the meeting.  Mr. Geoff Coats, Executive General Manager who was a member of the high level Business Delegation that accompanied the Prime Minister  on his visit to India in March, spoke on India’s growing economic power and CBA’s widening interest in the country.

 

Others who addressed the meet included Mr. Andrew Watson, General Manager, Corporate NSW and  Mr. John Peters, Senior Economist of the Bank who gave an overview of Australian economy in its recent trends.

 

Mr. Sarat Chandran, who led the Mission, made a presentation on “Doing Business with India” and highlighted the size of the Indian market and its demographic strengths and observed that with over 40% of Indian population below the age of 25, India is emerging not only as one of the largest markets in the world, but one of the youngest too.

 

At the end of a week long visit, the delegates felt that they had a deeper insight into Australia’s business environment and its growing opportunities and were busy putting together strategies to tap them with their new contacts and their new sense of confidence.

 

The Delegation included the following members :

 

  1. Mr. Umesh M. Pujara, Director, ASE DesignSoft Pvt. Ltd, Chennai

  2. Mr. Pranav Taparia, Executive Director – Production, Chemise Indus Private Limited, Chennai

  3. Mr. Anand Jacob Verghese, Additional Director, Hindustan College of Engineering, Chennai

  4. Mr. Salim Mahmood, Deputy Director (Admissions), Hindustan College of Engineering, Chennai

  5. Mr. V. Ravi Venkatesh, Practice Manager, iMantras (India) Pvt. Ltd, Chennai

  6. Mr. Vikas Daga, Executive Director – Projects, Janami Enterprise, Chennai

  7. Mr. V. Mahesh, General Manager (Exports), KLR Industries Ltd, Hyderabad

  8. Mr. Shashi Sawhney, Sr. Vice President – Business Development, Nunet Technologies Private Ltd, Visakhapatnam

  9. Mr. Hari Singh, Managing Director, Preet Agro Industries Pvt. Ltd, Punjab

  10. Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhamra, Director, Preet Agro Industries Pvt. Ltd, Punjab

  11. Mrs. V.P. Rajini Reddy, Director, RR Infotech Ltd, Chennai

  12. Mr. Murali Krishnan, General Manager, Rising Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Chennai

  13. Mr. V. Anand Reddy, Managing Director, Sonali Castings (P) Ltd, Hyderabad

  14. Mrs. V. Veena Reddy, Director, Sonali Castings (P) Ltd, Hyderabad

  15. Mr. V.K. Sharma, Director, V.K.S. Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Chennai

  16. Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber

  17. Mrs. Adelaide Deniz, Manager of the Chamber.

 

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Outsourcing Opportunities (BPO and Call Centres) from Australia

 

 
 Mr. N. Lakshmi Narayanan, President and CEO, Cognizant Technology Solutions, delivering the inaugural address. Others (L to R) : Mr. P. Gopalakrishna, Secretary; and Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber.

 

Keeping in view the recent growth in the BPO industry, to share knowledge and experience on the challenging operational issues of the industry, to the business community wishing to enter the BPO and Call Centre spectrum, the Chamber organized a Workshop on the topic “Outsourcing Opportunities (BPO and Call Centres) from Australia” on 23rd June 2006 at Hotel Residency Towers, Chennai.

 

In his Inaugural Address, Mr. N Lakshmi Narayanan, President & CEO, Cognizant Technology Solutions, observed that ‘while many countries are facing the population growth in a negative strategy, India with an increased demographic profile and more than 60 per cent of its population being below 30 years provides a large educated workforce and it is capable of meeting the brain power demand of the global economy, which makes the country an ample player in the global outsourcing market’.

 

Other speakers made presentations on “Offshoring of Banking Operations to India – A Case Study of ANZ OTTS” by Mr. Fred Bertram, Managing Director, ANZ OTTS-India, Bangalore;  “Outsourcing of Financial Services to India” by Ms. Ambika Krishnan, Head of Performance, Management and Strategy, Repcol India Ltd., Bangalore;  “Australian Call Centre Industry and Indian Opportunities” by Mr. M. Rangarajan, Executive Director, Serviont Global Solutions Ltd. Chennai;  “BPO in HR Services forcusing on Asia Pacific & Australia in particular” by Mr. D Rajiv Krishnan, Director & CEO, Ma Foi Consulting Solutions Ltd., Chennai; “Outsourcing for an Australian Superannuation Processing Company” by Mr. P.S. Raghavan, Executive Director, Sundaram Business Services ; and “Strategies for Attracting Oursourcing Projects from Australia” by Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber.

 

Presentations were also made on Activities of City Info Services Pvt Ltd.  by Mr. Sujit Paul, General Manager – All India and International Affairs, Bangalore; and Mr. P. Pradeep Kumar, Regional Director of VSNL on various functions of VSNL

 

Earlier, Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber, in his Welcome Address, remarked that International outsourcing was a widely held practice in Australia, with 4,000 call centres employing over 2 lakh people. The market is valued at A$ 2.5 billion and is projected to rise to A$ 3.6 billion by 2008”.

 

Mr. P. Gopalakrishna, Secretary of the Chamber, proposed a vote of thanks.

 

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Australian Bank Donates for Tsunami Relief Operations in Tamil Nadu

(5th June, 2006 at Hotel Taj Coromandel, Chennai)

 

 
 Mr. Yogan Rasanayakam (third from left), General Manager - Asia, Westpac Banking Corporation, Australia, presenting a cheque for AU$ 400,000 to Mr. Jim Reif (extreme right), Chief Executive Officer, Opportunity International, Chennai for Tsunami relief operations in Tamil Nadu. Others (L to R) : Mr. P. Gopalakrishna, Secretary; Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director; and Mr. T.T. Srinivasaraghavan, Vice-President of the Chamber.

 

One of Australia's oldest banks, Westpac, made a generous contribution of AUD 400,000 towards Tsunami Relief Operations in Tamil Nadu at a Lecture Meeting organised by the Chamber on the topic "Australian Financial Services Industry and India" on June o5, 2006 at Hotel Taj Coromandel, Chennai.

 

The cheque was handed over by Mr. Yogan Rasanayakam, the Bank's General Manager - Asia, to Mr. Jim Reif, CEO of Opportunity International, a global leader and pioneer in providing Micro Finance and Enterprises Development Services to developing countries and which has been active in Tsunami relief in Tamil Nadu.

 

In his lecture on the topic, Mr. Rasanayakam said the emergence of China and India as global players would shift the balance of economic power to Asia, which would benefit Australian economy. Around 1.20 lakh professionals of South Asian origin in Australia have been targeted by Westpac to provide a host of financial services.

 

Earlier, Mr. T.T. Srinivasaraghavan, Vice-President of the Chamber, in his Welcome Address, said Westpac's generosity reflects Australia as a human society, always ready to share the grief and pain of a world in distress.

 

Ms. Victoria Walker, Counsellor, Australian High Commission, New Delhi, also participated and addressed the audience.

 

Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber, observed in his concluding remarks that Australia had evolved an impeccable tradition of Corporate Social Responsibilities and sustainable community values.

 

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Prime Minister Hon. John Howard announces the opening of Consulate General in Chennai

 


Australian Prime Minister Hon. Mr. John Howard seen along with Mr. K.M. Mammen, President of the Chamber, at the Luncheon Meeting

 
Mr. K.M. Mammen, President of the Chamber, addressing the audience at the Luncheon Meeting, held on 8th March, 2006, at  Chennai

 

Australia will soon set up a Consulate General in Chennai. This was announced by Hon. Mr. John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, at a Luncheon Meeting organised by the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce jointly with Australian High Commission, Australian Trade Commission and Macquarie Bank, in Chennai.

 

He declared that Australia has great goodwill towards India and that their relationship is on the "cusp of something really big", Mr. Howard said the shift in the growth of the middle class form North America and Europe to predominantly India, China and Japan offered enormous opportunities. Australia has emerged as the third most preferred destination for Indian students. There had also been a spectacular increase in the number of Indian tourists though their aggregate number was still less compared to those from China and Indonesia.

 

Mr. Howard said that for India, a young country, the ageing population in Australia offered tremendous opportunities in the services sector. A recognition of the "enormous implication" for India was evident in a number of representatives of the tertiary and education sectors in the business delegation that had come along with him.

 

In his welcome address, Mr. K.M. Mammen, President of the Chamber said that it was the first visit by any Australian Prime Minister to Chennai. Australia could provide technology to India, particularly for agro industries and infrastructure, and in return use Indian resources, especially manpower.

 

Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber, in his concluding remarks said the bilateral relationship was reaching a critical mass.

 

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Australian Prime Minister's Visit to India - Business Delegation

A high-level business delegation of representatives from leading Australian companies accompanied the Prime Minister, Hon. Mr. John Howard, during his official visit to India, visiting New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai from 6 to 8 March 2006.

The 20-members delegation discussed the commercial opportunities with the top industrialists from Chennai in a Round Table Meeting  and interacted with the business community at the Luncheon Meeting hosted by the Chamber jointly with Australian High Commission, Australian Trade Commission and Macquarie Bank, in Chennai.

Click Here to View the 20-members business delegation list

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Meeting with Mr. Simon Johnson, Regional Director, WATO-India

 
 Mr. Simon Johnson, Regional Director, WATO-India addressing the audience. Also seen are (L to R) Mr. P. Gopalakrishna, Secretary of the Chamber, Mr. N.C. Sarabeswaran, the Immediate Past President of the Chamber and Mr. K.V.V. Rajan, Sr. Marketing Advisor, WATO-India, Chennai.

 

Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Southern Regional Office of Western Australian Trade Office-India (WATO) jointly organized a Meeting with Mr. Simon Johnson, Regional Director, WATO-India, Mumbai on 20th February, 2006 at Hotel Residency Towers, Chennai.

 

Mr. N.C. Sarabeswaran, the Immediate Past President of the Chamber welcomed the gatherings.

 

Mr. Simon Johnson made a brief presentation on  Western Australian Government’s keen interest in the emerging business opportunities in various sectors in this region and WATO’s role in facilitating bilateral trade with India.

 

Mr. P. Gopalakrishna, secretary of the Chamber, proposed a vote of thanks.

 

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Workshop on Packaging and Forwarding for Successful Exports

(25th January, 2006 at Hotel Savera, Chennai)

 

 
 Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber, presenting a memento to Dr. H.B.N. Murthy at the Workshop

 

The Chamber organized an interesting Workshop to educate the business community on the practical steps required to bring the packaging and forwarding to world class standards for increasing exports.

 

Mr. C. Sarat Chandran, Director of the Chamber, welcomed the gatherings.

 

Dr. H.B.N. Murthy, the internationally known authority on packaging, and a Fellow of Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome (a UN Agency), in his main presentation, explained in detail, the Packaging Laws and materials required for different products for successful exports, the qualities of different eco-friendly packaging materials suitable for different products, the advantages of containerization, the various methods of utilising wood packaging materials and palletisation techniques.

 

Mr. G.B. Reddy, Joint Director, Indian Institute of Packaging, Chennai, in his presentation explained the various tests and testing methods for kraft paper & corrugated fibreboard / boxes.

 

Mr. Raveen Chaudhary, Sales Manager, ITC Packaging and Printing, SBU, in his presentation, pointed out the need to preserve and protect the quality of the products. He explained the qualities of various packaging material, and their suitability to different products to increase demand in the international market.

 

Mr. Anil Gautam, Product Manager, DHL Express (I) P Ltd, Mumbai, using ‘Fast Forwarding Indian Exports’ as his theme, narrated the challenges being faced by Indian Industry, the initiatives taken by the Logistic industry, the latest technologies in the Forwarding Industry and the various systems and services of DHL for fast and cost effective forwarding of cargo.

 

Mr. P. Gopalakrishna, Secretary of the Chamber, proposed a vote of thanks.

 

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