China General Interest
Michael Bennetts, experienced China hand was the speaker at our well attended breakfast event in association with Gold sponsors, HSBC last month. In his extensive time in China, he had access to and relationships with officials across the board, from large multi-national corporations to smaller domestic companies, both public and private.
Of many lessons learned in that role, what came to the fore was the importance of personal relationships and balancing Western business thinking with the sometimes opposing Chinese approach.
"The Mandarin word guanxi, which literally means relationships," he says in his article in this edition of China Now, "is much more than what we would describe as networking in our Western business culture."
He believes that what works for one company does not necessarily work for another. "There is no one right way to do business in China." he concludes and adds "The Chinese have as much to teach about business as they do to learn from foreign practices."
All this gives a rather apposite lead in to the Cathay Pacific NZCTA Trade Awards, which, as we hope you know by now, take place on Tuesday 16 June at SkyCity in Auckland.
What the finalists will almost certainly demonstrate is exactly that – there is no one way to be successful. But the winners will also have absorbed and used the lessons well summarised in Bennetts' article.
Whilst applications are steadily coming in, there is still until 29 May, to make one yourself, if you think you have a story of success in China to tell.
There are four different categories of excellence to select or you can leave it to the judges to choose a category for you.
The important thing is to spend a few minutes completing the simple and non-prescriptive application form and take advantage of the opportunity to contest for a prize and the chance to profile your company.
Just as important, motivate others to take on the challenge of doing business with China by profiling and demonstrating your success.
The night itself promises a glittering, informative and entertaining occasion. In addition to seeing the profiles of finalists and winners whilst partaking of the justly commended SkyCity cuisine, guest of honour, Minister of Trade, Hon Tim Groser will speak and later there will be music and presentations.
The Association has over its many decades of activity managed to retain its culture of effective information broking and networking in an environment where we don’t take ouselves so seriously that we don’t ultimately have great fun doing it!
This evening will be well in that tradition and we are now taking bookings for corporate tables for ten and individual seats at the Awards.
Challenging times call for occasions when the hair can be let down in an environment of positive business success and celebration.
You can help celebrate the winners' successes and learn a lot about doing business with China by attending (click here for more information) and having fun.
May 17, 2009