Date: Friday, 14 July

Time: 2.00pm to 5.00pm

Building G, Footscray Park

Victoria University

The Role of Ethnic and Diaspora Business Communities in Promoting Export Activity

21 June 2006

Program
9am – 2pm

Victoria University Conference Centre
300 Flinders Street
Melbourne 3000

Organisers
The State Ethnic Enterprise Advisory Council, Victorian Department of State, Industry and Regional Development

And

Institute for Community Engagement and Policy Alternatives, Victoria University

Purpose

The aim of the conference is:

To maximise the role of ethnic chambers of commerce and to support their members in enhancing export performance;
To identify opportunities for ethnic business communities and government to work more effectively together; and
To identify research and training required to enhance Diasporic trade from Australia.

Target Audience
Attendees are expected to come from:

Ethnic chambers of commerce, government agencies, such as Austrade, industry groups such as VECCI, the Australian Chamber of Commerce, and Australian Industry Group, Victoria University Students

Draft Program
9.00 am	Welcome Kaye Darveniza Chair State Ethnic Enterprise Advisory Council Parliamentary Secretary on Multicultural Affairs
9.10 am	Victorian Government Support for Small Business and Export André Haermeyer Minister for Small Business
9.20 am	Keynote speech Utilising Ethnic Networks in International Business/Trade Development Dr Tim Harcourt Chief Economist Austrade
10 – 10.35 am	Keynote Speech Identifying Best Practice in Ethnic Chambers of Commerce Dr Steve Bakalis Faculty of Business and Law, Victoria University Dr Jamie Doughney Faculty of Business and Law, Victoria University
10.35 am	Morning Tea
10.55– 11.25	Panel Discussion Best Practice in Ethnic Chambers of Commerce
11.25 – 11.55	Ethnic Trade in Regional Communities: “The Importance of Regional Ethnic Connections in Exporting” Derek De Vrieze Manager, Strategic Markets, Bendigo Bank
11.55 am	Ethnic Trade Missions: The South Australian Council for International Trade and Commerce (CITCSA), Nicholas Begakis AM Chairman of CITCSA
12.25 pm	Discussion: How Government and ethnic Chambers of Commerce can work more effectively to generate export Chair: Associate Professor Danny Ben-Moshe ICEPA
1 pm	Lunch
2 pm	Close