The Australian Enterprise Summit Council Inc. introduced collectively greater than 100 visitors from throughout the diplomatic, enterprise, and neighborhood spheres for its “Join & Cheers. An Night of Enterprise and Diplomacy” at The Langham Lodge on 7 August 2025. The occasion blended cultural alternate, networking, and financial diplomacy in one in every of Sydney’s most prestigious settings.

Presiding over the night, ABSC Inc. President Dr Frank Alafaci welcomed visitors with humour, calling it “the most efficient excuse to get pleasure from a cocktail this aspect of Sydney Harbour.” He stated the aim was to supply an area the place diplomatic {and professional} communities may join in a extra casual but purposeful approach.

Ambassadors, senior diplomats, commerce officers, and enterprise leaders from all over the world attended. Amongst them have been His Excellency Mr Ali Saad M.H. Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar, Mr Saston Machigere, Deputy Ambassador of Zimbabwe, Mr Milan Vagner, Minister/Counsellor of the Czech Republic, and Dr Alejandro Rivera Becerra, Counsellor for Financial Affairs from Mexico.

Consuls Basic from the Russian Federation, Italy, Romania, Thailand, and New Zealand have been current, alongside Deputy Consuls Basic from China, Thailand, and Egypt. Officers from america, France, Argentina, Greece, Malaysia, Turkey, Botswana, Qatar, and South Korea added to the combo, joined by Honorary Consuls from Uganda, Nepal, and El Salvador. Native authorities was represented by Councillor Sylvia Alafaci and Councillor Mas Meuross from the Metropolis of Canada Bay.

Notable enterprise figures included Michael Azzi, President of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Dr Joseph Rizk AM, CEO of Arab Financial institution Australia Ltd, Michael Rizk OAM from the Australian Lebanese Chamber of Commerce, Richard Yuan of the Australia China Entrepreneurs Membership, John Jiang of the Australian Dongbei Chinese language Chamber of Commerce, and Dr Patricia Jenkings from the United Nations Affiliation of Australia (NSW Division).

Dr Alafaci stated the idea got here from conversations with diplomats and professionals who needed extra accessible, relationship-driven occasions. “Consuls Basic usually obtain formal invites and headlines,” he stated, “however it’s the wider diplomatic {and professional} neighborhood that deserves extra alternatives to interact informally — thoughtfully, purposefully, and with out the burden of protocol.”

Describing the evening as “a mild diplomatic revolution”, he stated the mix of soppy jazz, high quality canapés, and open dialog supplied the best setting for future collaborations.

He additionally outlined ABSC Inc.’s work as Australia’s premier multisector worldwide commerce council, which connects companies, diplomats, policymakers, traders, and thought leaders by occasions starting from expos to boardrooms. The council additionally publishes EKONOMOS, a world enterprise affairs journal that includes contributions from ambassadors and international executives. Dr Alafaci thanked enterprise visitors who bought tickets, recognising their function in strengthening ties between diplomacy and commerce.

The Langham’s refined environment inspired visitors to step outdoors acquainted circles, have interaction in new discussions, and think about recent alternatives for cooperation. The night balanced high-level talks with private exchanges, underscoring the worth of face-to-face contact in a digital age.

Many visitors expressed hope that “Join & Cheers” would grow to be a fixture on Sydney’s enterprise and diplomatic calendar. The gathering confirmed that diplomacy and commerce can intersect in methods which can be each dynamic and centred on human connection, with ABSC Inc. reaffirming its function as a bridge between numerous communities in a fast-changing world.

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