Sada-e-Watan Sydney
Official Launch of
EKONOMOS Issue 5, 2024 at the ABSC Inc.’s Annual Gala Dinner
ABSC Inc. President Dr. Frank Alafaci
More than 250 Diplomats, Politicians
and Business personalities attended Australian Business Summit Council Inc
lavish Annual Gala Dinner 2024 at Le Montage Sydney
The Australian
Business Summit Council Inc. hosted two hundred and fifty business leaders,
diplomats, and politicians at its lavish Annual Gala Dinner to launch the fifth
issue of EKONOMOS, the official business affairs
magazine published by the Council, in the Sarah Grand Ballroom of one of
Sydney’s five-star reception centers, Le Montage,
on Thursday, 9th May 2024.
ABSC Inc. president Dr. Frank Alafaci PhD
welcomed the VIPs, dignitaries and guests to this signature occasion, featuring
Senator Dave Sharma (Liberal Senator for NSW); the Hon. Mark Coure MP (NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism /
Jobs, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology / and for South-Western
Sydney); Dr. Helen Sham-Ho (former Member of the NSW Legislative Council); Ms.
Wendy Lindsay (former Member for East Hills in the NSW Legislative Assembly);
Mr. Michael Megna (Mayor of the City of Canada Bay); H.E. Dr. Nor-Eddine Benfreha (Ambassador of Algeria); H.E. Mr. Joe Tapera
Mhishi (Ambassador of Zimbabwe / Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps); H.E.
Mr. Rade Stefanovic (Ambassador of Serbia); H.E. Mr. Beka Dvali (Ambassador of
Georgia); H.E. Mr. Kemal Muftic’ (Ambassador of
Bosnia and Herzegovina); H.E. Mr. Vitaliano Gallardo Valencia (Ambassador of
Peru); H.E. Ms. Dianela Pi (Ambassador of Uruguay); H.E. Dr. Siswo Pramono (Ambassador of
Indonesia); H.E. Dr. Chanborey Cheunboran
(Ambassador of Cambodia); H.E. Mr. Samuel Yao Kumah (High Commissioner of
Ghana); H.E. Dr. Elias Munshya (High Commissioner of Zambia); Mrs. Mercy Osebhon Clement (High Commissioner of Nigeria); H.E. Mrs.
Marie Claire Jeanne Monty (High Commissioner of Mauritius); H.E. Mr. Robert Sisilo (High Commissioner of the Solomon Islands); Mr.
Jorge Kadri (Consul General of Brazil); Mr. Sebastiano Angulo (Consul General
of Chile); Mrs. Silvina Aguirre (Consul General of Argentina); Mr. Mohamed
Khalil Morsi (Consul General of Egypt); Dr. Nguyen Dang Thang (Consul General
of Vietnam); Mr. Vedi Kurnia Buana (Consul General of Indonesia); Mrs.
Charmaine Aviquivil (Consul General of the
Philippines); Mr. Qamar Zaman (Consul General of Pakistan); Mr. Md. Shakhawat Hossain (Consul General of Bangladesh); Mr.
Lawrence Buhagiar (Consul General of Malta); Mr. Jose Vasquez Rivas (Honorary
Consul of El Salvador); Mr. Amir Sahinovic (Honorary
Consul of Bosnia-Herzegovina); Dr. Cem Gencoglu (Vice
Consul of Turkiye); Ms..Chrysa Prokopaki
(Trade Commissioner of Greece); and Mrs. Simona Bernardini (Trade Commissioner
of Italy).
As
the ABSC Inc. president for the fifth consecutive year, Dr. Alafaci addressed
the stellar audience on the need to promote sound policies, measures and incentives for capital accumulation in order
that the robust spirit of entrepreneurship on which Australia heavily relies
will provide sustainable economic growth into the future. Indeed, the
paramount mission for which the Council was established in 2018 is to support
the bona fide rights of local
businesses and enhance Australian entrepreneurialism by means of stimulating,
strengthening and furthering multilateral economic links between businesses
both within the country and extraterritorially. As such, the Council supports
the advancement of
high value-added and technologically advanced sectors and industries at home as well as the furtherance of lucrative
business, trade and investment opportunities between the Australian market and
the international business community.
Heading
the keynote speeches at the Annual Gala Dinner, Senator Dave Sharma (Senator
for NSW) emphasised the importance of trade to the long-term future of
Australia; H.E. Mr. Joe Tapera Mhishi (Ambassador of
Zimbabwe / Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps) highlighted the investment
potential in mineral exploration and extraction in Zimbabwe, especially with
the development of a new lithium policy; and H.E. Dr. Chanborey
Cheunboran (Ambassador of Cambodia) commented on the untapped opportunities in Cambodia as a
promising investment destination with a stable political system, favourable
business conditions, robust economic growth, and a strategic geographical
location that attracts both local and international investors.
Officially launching EKONOMOS, Issue 5,
2024, ABSC Inc. president, Dr. Frank Alafaci PhD conferred in a formal
presentation ceremony with Senator Dave Sharma (Senator for NSW) a special
commemorative plaque to each of the article contributors to the magazine who
were present at the Annual Gala Dinner:
H.E. Dr. Nor-Eddine Benfreha
(Ambassador of Algeria); H.E. Mr. Joe Tapera Mhishi (Ambassador of Zimbabwe /
Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps); H.E. Mr. Rade Stefanovic (Ambassador of
Serbia); H.E. Ms. Dianela Pi (Ambassador of Uruguay); H.E. Dr. Chanborey Cheunboran (Ambassador
of Cambodia); H.E. Mrs. Marie Claire Jeanne Monty (High Commissioner of
Mauritius); Mr. Sebastiano Angulo (Consul General of Chile) on behalf of H.E.
Mr. Jaime Chomali Garib (Ambassador of Chile); H.E. Mr. Mohamed Khalil Morsi (Consul General
of Egypt); Dr. Joseph Rizk AM (CEO / Managing Director, Arab Bank Australia Ltd.);
Mr. Wally Mehanna (CEO, Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce); Mr. Ramy Qutami (Managing Director, Madison Marcus); Mr. Eric Boone
(Partner, Madison Marcus); Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley (Deputy Vice
Chancellor, UBSS / CEO, Group Colleges Australia); and Professor Ian Bofinger
(CEO / Executive Dean, Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts).
Likewise, the ABSC Inc. President and the
Hon. Mark Coure MP (NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism
/ Jobs, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology / and for South-Western
Sydney) formally
acknowledged and presented the five sponsors (Alliance Project Group, Arab Bank
Australia Ltd., Drs ABCD First Aid Training, DMG Fine Wines and Trade Window)
with their own commemorative trophies for their generous contribution to making both the Annual
Gala Dinner and the fifth issue of the ABSC Inc.‘s business affairs magazine
possible.
Importantly, two Lifetime Achievement
awards were bestowed by the ABSC Inc. president in a surprise presentation ceremony to Mr. Michael
Rizk OAM (accepted on his behalf by Dr. Joseph Rizk AM, CEO / Managing
Director, Arab Bank Australia Ltd.), one of the directors / former president of the Australian
Lebanese Chamber of Commerce and currently the Head of Trade Relations of the
Chamber, and Mr. Michael Megna (Mayor of the City of Canada Bay) who has operated a chartered tax advisory business in Five Dock, NSW
since 1974, for their distinguished service to the community.
Alternating with the event’s
formalities, four memorable music performances from Ms. Katya Cyargeenka on piano, Adjunct Professor Art Phillips (former
guitarist for the American singer Barry Manilow) on acoustic guitar, Professor
Ian Bofinger (CEO /
Executive Dean, Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts) on cello and
his wife Assistant Professor Tracy O’Leary playing the flute, and Emeritus
Professor Greg Whateley (Deputy Vice Chancellor, UBSS / CEO, Group Colleges
Australia) in a special duet performance with Adjunct Professor Art Phillips
once more on acoustic guitar entertained the audience during the Annual Gala
Dinner.
ABSC Inc.
president, Dr. Frank Alafaci
ABSC Inc. president, Dr. Frank Alafaci
PhD formally concluded this exclusive Annual Gala Dinner with his
acknowledgement of the support and assistance provided by the Board of
Directors of the Australian Business Summit Council Inc.,
especially Mrs. Sylvia Alafaci, the Council’s secretary, for her incredible
devotion to organising this event, sending out most
of the invitations, preparing the beautiful table arrangements and decorations,
and communicating with Le Montage’s events management team led by Mr. Stephen
Melani to whom the Council owes a special debt of gratitude and appreciation
for their kindness, patience and professionalism.
Dr. Alafaci PhD also thanked the
Council’s committee members Ms. Linda Kim, Ms. Sheron Sultan and Mrs. Mas Meuross for assisting the ABSC Inc. secretary to decorate
the Sarah Grand Ballroom and attend to the numerous VIPs, dignitaries and other
guests who had honoured the Council with their presence on the evening,
including Mr. David Bertram, CEO of DB Print Management for printing the
Official Program and Menu for this Annual Gala Dinner as well as copies of
EKONOMOS, Issue 5, 2024, which is likewise available in an electronic format on
the ABSC Inc. website at www.absc.online.
H.E. Joe Tapera Mhishi (Ambassador of Zimbabwe
& Dean)
H.E. Dr. Chanborey Cheunboran (Ambassador of Cambodia).
Honourable Senator Dave Sharma
Former State Minister
Hon. Mark Coure, MP
Dr Frank Alafaci PhD, President Australian
Business Summit Council Inc
Hon. Mark Coure MP, Mr. Michael Megna (Mayor
of Canada Bay) and Dr. Frank Alafaci PhD (ABSC Inc. President)
Ms. Katya Cyargeenka
. Adjunct Professor Art Phillips
. Professor Ian Bofinger and
Assistant Professor Tracey O'Leary
Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley and Adjunct
Professor Art Phillips
Dr Frank
Alafaci PhD (President)
H.E. Dr. Chanborey Cheunboran (Ambassador of Cambodia).
H.E. Joe Tapera
Mhishi (Ambassador of Zimbabwe: Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps)
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