August 2019 UpdateWelcome to the latest edition of the SEA CAPE newsletter. Our Market Readiness Programme—three editions (ASEAN, Innovation and Vietnam)—will be hitting the regions in NZ in the next three months. Businesses currently engaging in Southeast Asia or those considering that as an option should keep an eye out for the dates. SEA CAPE is also involved in a partnership with the ASEAN Business Alliance, which will be launched at its inaugural conference in Bangkok in September. Also in September will be the biennial ASEAN Forum in Auckland. Both of these activities promise to be good platforms for businesses not just to understand more about Southeast Asia markets but to meet like-minded others. Our Tertiary Market Immersion Programme will see 16 of NZ’s best tertiary students travel to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in January 2020. Applications are open until September 1st. We also have updates on Māori Business engagements in Vietnam, our work with the University of Otago on cultural awareness in the tourism industry, and Toitoi journals creation by the young ones in this update. From this issue on, we will also feature individuals or groups who have been involved in SEA CAPE activities to reflect on their learnings and share their experiences with our stakeholders. I hope you will find something that excites you in the below array of SEA CAPE activities. I thank you for the ongoing support you have provided to us. - Professor Siah Hwee Ang, Southeast Asia CAPE Director Market Readiness Programme (MRP)In July, SEA CAPE launched our 'ASEAN Innovation' workshop which was well received by participants in Hamilton and Auckland. We are also excited to have launched our new 'Vietnam' focused workshops this week. Follow the link below to find out more and to register for our upcoming 'ASEAN', 'ASEAN Innovation' and 'Vietnam' workshops in Wellington, Auckland, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Gisborne and Hamilton. Our workshops are for businesses currently engaging in Southeast Asia but also those who may be considering that as an option. 'Boosting Connectivity Across ASEAN'Bangkok ConferenceSEA CAPE is excited to be working with the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC), ASEAN New Zealand Business Alliance (NZABA), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT), New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and others on the inaugural business conference 'Boosting Connectivity Across ASEAN' in Bangkok this September. The Conference is designed to bring together NZ businesses from across ASEAN and NZ in one place, to experience workshops, keynote speakers, site visits and networking. View the full conference programme and register via the button below. Doing Business in ASEANDynamic. Digital. DiverseAre you a tertiary student interested in attending this year's ASEAN forum in Auckland? SEA CAPE is funding up to 16 students across NZ tertiary institutes to attend this event hosted by SEA CAPE, ASEAN New Zealand Business Council and Auckland University of Technology on the 17th September. Don't miss this unique opportunity! TMIP 2020Immerse yourself in Indonesia, Malaysia and SingaporeThe Tertiary Market Immersion Programme (TMIP) 2020 will take place at the beginning of January in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Guided by academic mentors, TMIP 2020 participants will complete a business project for New Zealand businesses and entrepreneurs looking to engage with these regions. They will visit global, local and New Zealand businesses in these three countries while preparing to present their pitch in front of a panel of judges and their peers at the end of the programme. After returning to New Zealand, each group will publish a TMIP 2020 business report. SEA CAPE will cover all expenses for the 16 chosen students which are welcome to apply from all tertiary institutions across New Zealand . Are you an outstanding business-savvy student or do you know someone who is? Te Hononga-ā-KiwaStrengthening Māori Business CapabilitiesFollowing the success of last year's programme in collaboration with the University of Waikato, we are pleased to announce that fourteen Māori students from across Aotearoa have been selected to take part in this year's Te Hononga-ā-Kiwa programme to Vietnam. The purpose of Te Hononga-ā-Kiwa is to increase Māori business capability & awareness and to improve Māori business engagement in the Southeast Asia region. Enhancing cultural understanding for New Zealand tourism SMEsCultural awareness and understanding is vital for the future development of our tourism industry. Celebrating and catering to cultural differences creates better experiences for visitors and better business for New Zealand’s growing tourism industry. Together with the Department of Tourism at the University of Otago, SEA CAPE is developing a training programme to increase cultural awareness and improve preparedness of small and medium tourism operators (SMEs) to receive visitors from Southeast Asia. Toitoi Southeast Asia JournalJohn Paul Thang's reaction to finding out he is going to be a published author! John Paul will feature in the upcoming Toitoi Southeast Asia Journal. Writers and artists aged 5-14 were invited to submit stories, poems and art exploring their connections with Southeast Asia. They were encouraged to write in English, any languages of the region or a creative mix of different languages as well as send any forms of visual art! 33 of these submissions were selected to be professionally translated and published. The journals will be distributed to all primary and intermediate schools and libraries in the country in January 2020. New NZ travel rulesNew Zealand has a new travel requirement for some visitors and transit passengers. It’s called the NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) and affects those who come here from 60 visa-waiver countries – such as the US, Canada, UK and Europe, Japan and many other Asian countries. SEA CAPE SpotlightCatching up with SEA CAPE friends and alumni Who are you and what do you do? Mabuhay! I’m Nina Santos. I was born and raised in the bustling streets of Manila, the Philippines. I’m now based in Auckland where I balance my Law, Politics & International Relations degree with my work at the Ministry for the Environment. What is your connection with SEA CAPE? I was lucky enough to join the Tertiary Market Immersion Programme to Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore in 2019. Tell us about your favourite SEA CAPE memory? Visiting the Facebook Asia-Pacific Headquarters in Singapore is an experience I’ll brag to my future kids about. It was amazing to be hosted by gracious kiwi employees who gave us a “crash course” on how the global giant operates. I use Facebook and Instagram everyday, so being in the epicentre of it was pretty cool. If you could drop everything and travel to any Southeast Asian country right now, which one would you choose, and why? The pearl of the orient, the Philippines of course! Top notch hospitality, best food in the world, lush beaches and buzzing cities - what’s not to love? (If you haven’t been, book a flight and thank me later!) New to the SEA CAPE mailing list? You can now access our past newsletters here |