Our GNZCC Patron

Pictured: GNZCC Patron, Sir William Gallagher (front row, 3^rd right) flanked by (left) CEO Monique Surges and (right) German Ambassador Stefan Krawielicki, together with members of our GNZCC Board.

Kiwi industry doyen backs trade “lift” into Germany

Gallagher Group CEO and kiwi captain of industry Sir William Gallagher has thrown his entrepreneurial weight behind a push for increasing kiwi exports into Germany – at a time when the economy is under pressure through the impact of COVID-19 on major sectors like tourism and hospitality.

We are honored that Sir William has taken up this honorary role as inaugural Patron of the German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Inc. (GNZCC), which supports trade between the two countries and represents a membership group of more than 270 businesses operating in New Zealand, with a German-New Zealand trade focus.

In his new role, Sir William will work alongside the GNZCC to raise the profile of German trade here, as well as assist new and established NZ companies to grow their export business into Germany. Trade between the two countries totals almost $6 billion a year and German ranks fifth as a trading partner behind China, Australia, the United States and Japan – and ahead of the United Kingdom.

Sir William says he took up the invitation to be GNZCC Patron “with relish” and views it as a privilege. “I really value the business connections both my own company and New Zealand, as a whole, have with Germany. It was one of Gallagher Group’s first export markets in Europe, and is still a strong, vibrant connection for us.", says Sir William.