Philip Ruddock: "Some people I think they come into parliament to serve themselves"

Ambassador Glenn Miles: "Relationships key to building business success"

15/11/2017

(Translation of the article appears in Arabic section)

Sydney: The 2017 ALCC Annual Ball and Awards Night was held on Friday, November 3, 2017, at Doltone House, Sydney. TV presenter Tim Gilbert, who is of Lebanese heritage, was MC. Michael Rizk announced the appointment of Philip Ruddock as an honorary life member of the chamber. Among the guests were Glenn Miles, the Australian Ambassador to Lebanon; George Bitar Ghanem, the Consul General of Lebanon, Hon. Philip Ruddock, Mayor of Hornsby Shire; mayors, councilors, business people, charity groups, clubs, community, media figures and leaders.

Joe Khattar

Joe Khattar, the President of the Chamber said: “I am sure you will find that this year, as all the other years, we have worthy winners of these prestigious awards which we are very proud to give in recognition of the great work that these winners have accomplished. I would like to make special mention of Emer Zavaroni. Emer is the international representative of the SMEG Group globally, and travelled from Italy especially to join us. Also Elie Sawma, a dear friend of the ALCC, President of the Lebanese Builders and Promoters Association and Michael Rizk, the ALCC’s public relations representative in Lebanon, who has especially come from Beirut to attend this awards night.

The winners were: (Manufacturing) Wassim Farhart of Clean Plus Pty Ltd; (Construction) Maroun and Mark Taouk of TQM Design and Construct - (Recognition) and Gregory Jewellers.

Glenn Miles

Glenn Miles, the Australian Ambassador to Lebanon said in his speech: “The Australia Lebanon Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Award Dinner marks the achievements of ALCC members and their business successes. It demonstrates the importance of building upon relationships because building relationships is what business is truly about.  Relationships are critical when building a business. Building a business is about building a future - not only for those directly involved, but also for those that benefit from the flow on effects.  In other words, building business helps build communities. Building communities helps build states and countries. Whether here in Australia or in Lebanon, businesses are critical not just to the economy, but to that sense of social worth that is shared by the many and varied individuals that make a community, a state and a nation. 

Diplomacy and the way embassies work, have changed significantly over the last 30 years - just as the way businesses have changed in the way they deal with the logistical, advertising and budgetary challenges they face.  Social media is perhaps the most obvious. More Australians are travelling, resulting in higher demands for information.   

Yet, despite all the technological changes, the principles of our work - real diplomatic work - remains.  This is the work of building and nurturing relationships;  developing networks and channels that enable diplomats to meet the embassy’s and Australia’s larger objectives. Whether it's working to build a more stable and secure global system, to advance our international candidacies, to build trade and economic linkages, to gain a better understanding of regional dynamics, to build cultural linkages and encourage dialogue, or whether working in support of our consular role, relationships remain critical in today’s increasingly complex world.  In other words, like business, we have to focus on our clients, stakeholders and others. So at the end of the day it's still about people and building people to people links because it is these connections that give the bilateral relationship shape and form.

In Australia’s and Lebanon’s case, I believe that the bilateral relationship has developed significantly over recent years precisely because our strong people to people linkages.  Australian support for Lebanon is not new – we’ve been supportive of Lebanon from the start. I have often spoken about how 18,000 Australian troops entered Lebanon from Palestine on June 8, 1941 and fought some of the hardest battles of World War II. Our soldiers remained in Lebanon after the battle.  Among other things, they helped build the railway line from Beirut to Tripoli. 

Yet in a relationship that has many strengths, we all recognise that trade is one area that we need to build upon. Part of the problem is perception. From Australia, Lebanon looks a hard and difficult market, surrounded by instability. Before reaching Lebanon, Australian business people have to fly over larger markets in South East Asia and the Gulf.  Similarly, few Lebanese know or understand what Australia has to offer. Lebanese don’t realise that Australia is a global leader in a range of sectors. Whether it's agribusiness, tourism, resources, or financial services in agribusiness - Australia is a major provider and supplier. 

Impressively, we have now recorded 27 years of uninterrupted economic growth – a record for an OECD country – at a GDP growth rate of 3.3 per cent.  Australia has the 13th largest economy in the world, having tripled the value of our total production over the last three decades and we are ranked 5th in the world for GDP per capita. This is where the ALCC adds value.  It brings people - and businesses together.

I caution that while approaching the diaspora makes sense you still need to sell investment opportunities on their commercial value and potential returns.  Essentially, whatever the positive spin you put on it, the message you send to the Lebanese diaspora should be the same as you would send to any business person – invest in Lebanon because you can make money. For despite the political difficulties faced by Lebanon, there are enormous business opportunities – opportunities that need to be grasped to provide the building blocks for greater economic growth. It requires nurturing and maintaining relationship. 

Philip Ruddock

Philip Ruddock, the Mayor of Hornsby Shire said: "For me public life is merely a matter of service, I have been rude enough to say to some people I think they come into parliament to serve themselves. My view is that in public life you only have one obligation and that is to the people of Australia.  Australia is a very unique place. There are few countries in the world that have a greater proportion of their population born overseas than use. We can build this nation together.  I am particularly proud that my friends, so many of who are here tonight, have been significant contributors to this nation. I can say from personal experience that people who made Australia their home, but not forgotten their birthplace, have been very significant contributors to the bilateral relationship in an extraordinarily positive way.