What the Newspapers said about the Moon Festival Party

Submitted 9/10/2007

Migration for Business Growth

 

Moon Shines on migrant success - The Adelaide Advertiser, 25 September 2007

Citizenship tests and Kevin Rudd's Mandarin-speak aside,m the economic impact of Australia's migrant population is clearly the toast of the moment.

Immigration SA together with Business SA yesterday acknowledged the economic participation of eight migrant business owners at the presentation of their permanent residency certificates during the Moon Festival celebrations at the Hilton Adelaide Hotel.

More than 400 migrants attended the festivities as part of the Migration for Business Growth program.

"The program is connecting new business migrants with the SA business sector and they are contributing to the economy through their exports, investment, creation of employment and other business development activities," Business SA chief executive Peter Vaughan said. He said Business SA knew of at least 180 opportunities for SA businesses and urged migrants to grab these "with both hands".

Immigration SA director Sunny Yang, who steers SA's migration program, said she was a migrant herself so understood the issues participants faced. She called on them to tell their families and friends about SA and to consider moving here. 

Persistence and local help paid off - by Michael Zhai - The Adelaide Advertiser, 2 October 2007

There are many small and medium-sized enterprises in South Australia that are keen to export products and services but are not sure where to start. My small start-up business, Harbin Star, has certainly served as a bridge between this state and China.

I came to South Australia in March, 2005 as a business migrant with my wife and daughter. Adelaide could hardly be further apart from where I came from - Harbin - a city in the most northern part of China.

The views, weather and friendly Adelaide locals immediately impressed us, but we also faced challenges. Communicating in English, finding suitable business opportunities and getting used to the local way of life are just some of them.

At the time, Immigration SA was putting on a series of seminars for business migrants covering issues like cultural differences, settlement, visas, export regulations and taxation. Attending the sessions helped me settle in and I made some business and government contacts. I subsequently established contact with Austrade and Business SA.

In July, 2005, Harbin Star sent its first export shipment of red wine to China through a successful deal with Aldinga Bay Wines of McLaren Vale. The reason I chose to export red wine was that I found a niche - the festival gift market - back in my home town.

We have since organised many themed red wine marketing activities during festivals in north east China. Through our efforts, Aldinga Bay's red wines are getting recognised in the region. In August of this year we started discussions with China Post to exploit more sales initiatives. We have gradually opened sales offices in other cities around China.

This didn't all happen easily. When I first got a list of wine companies from Austrade and contacted Aldinga Bay myself, I received the cold shoulder. I realised it is mostly due to my lack of English communication capability and they failed to see what I had to offer.

Immigration SA supported me with some initial introductions, and I went back to Aldinga Bay persistently, this time accompanied by my interpreters. Now, managing director of Aldinga Bay, Nick Girolamo, is a happy partner and a great friend of our family.

I have most recently been granted my permanent residency and am pleased to be a new South Australian. I believe my links with China are invaluable to many local small businesses. I have taken some local contacts to Harbin for business trips many ties. Through these trips, James Forbes found his Chinese partner for manufacturing boilers. With cross-border trade links, it can be a win-win situation for both South Australia and China.

Michael Zhai is the founder of wine exports company Harbin Star and an active member of the Migration for Business Growth program run by Immigration SA and Business SA.