The President's Message

The WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce is a highly regarded and well-respected community organisation in Australia. I am indeed honoured to serve as President of such an illustrious organisation.

New strategies for the Chamber have been identified and are currently being undertaken. These include extended trade missions, establishing business opportunities, improved seminars, increased social events, improved marketing communications, establishment of an investment arm for the Chamber, increasing benefits for members, etc.

While we continue to organise trade missions and develop dialogue with governments, organisations and commercial enterprises, we will take a further step by seeking out business opportunities that could be embraced by our members.

Trade missions to the different markets in Asia will be part of our programme to achieve this objective. The strengthening of relationships between relevant overseas governmental ministries, trade organisations and our counterparts in the different markets will strengthen the profile of our Chamber and place it in a highly advantageous position.

Guanxi or networking approach will remain our motto. Seminars and forums will be tailored to benefit the small/medium sized businesses that make up the majority of our membership base.

To achieve this, the Chamber will need financial strength. We have established an investment arm to ensure that the Chamber will have sound cash flow, not only for the year, but also for many years to come. Funds for this investment arm will be secured by soft loans from the business community. These loans will be guaranteed by me or other third parties. In this structure, the Chamber will not be exposed to any financial risk. For this purpose, the Chamber intends to raise $500,000 for the investment arm.

Additionally, the Chamber intends to raise a further $1,000,000 for its building and operations fund.

We have now in place a full-time CEO to facilitate the objectives of the Chamber.
The WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce, being served in a voluntary capacity by all the Council members, will continue to assist the business interests of the West Australian business community.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Council members for their precious time and unselfish support of the Chamber. I am confident that as a team, we will be able to increase the Chamber's relevance in the community and serve the needs of our members in a practical and tangible manner.

Richard T B Tan