Deadline: 20 February 2020

The Asia New Zealand Foundation and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs is offering up to eight young Southeast Asian agribusiness entrepreneurs and business leaders the opportunity to visit New Zealand.

This opportunity is part of the ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI), a key part of the New Zealand government’s ASEAN strategy. The initiative was established to facilitate trade and build networks and connections between entrepreneurs and business leaders in Southeast Asia and in New Zealand.

As of December 2019, 112 business leaders from across all ten ASEAN member countries representing a range of industries have visited New Zealand. In addition, 51 entrepreneurs from New Zealand have travelled to Southeast Asia.

About the Trip

Successful applicants will meet New Zealand agribusiness entrepreneurs and business leaders, develop a greater knowledge of the agricultural sector within New Zealand, and explore ways to collaborate with entrepreneurs from New Zealand.

Applicants will attend New Zealand’s leading agribusiness event, Fieldays, as well as connect with past Kiwi YBLI’s (Young Business Leaders Initiative participants) and members of the Foundation’s Leadership Network.

During the trip applicants will:

• learn about the New Zealand business environment, specifically with regards to agriculture
• meet and network with entrepreneurs and business leaders from New Zealand
• meet with government officials from New Zealand and ASEAN
• connect with the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Leadership Network, a network of New Zealand’s top young leaders
• take time to understand the culture of New Zealand
• attend Fieldays

The Foundation will work with the New Zealand diplomatic posts in ASEAN to deliver the programme.

Costs

The Asia New Zealand Foundation will fund the costs of successful applicants, including:

• a return economy airfare
• domestic transport
• accommodation
• insurance
• most meals and miscellaneous expenses.

Participants will need to cover their own spending money.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be:
  • aged under 40
  • able to demonstrate leadership in their field and a working level of English language ability
  • an entrepreneur or business leader at CEO or senior management level involved in agriculture from one of the ten ASEAN nations.
  • based in and have citizenship in one of the ten ASEAN member countries
  • interested in connecting with equivalents from other countries and exploring international business opportunities
  • confident public speakers willing to engage in dialogue with entrepreneurs from other countries
  • willing to contribute to the relationship between New Zealand and ASEAN.
• Outstanding start-up entrepreneurs or emerging entrepreneurs will also be considered. No knowledge or experience of New Zealand is required.

For more information, visit https://www.asianz.org.nz/entrepreneurship/nz-visit-for-seasian-agribusiness-entrepreneurs/