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Overview
Ethnic Xchange is New Zealand’s premier ethnic business symposium series, designed to harness the economic power of diversity and turn evidence into action. Ethnic Xchange 2024 (EX24) highlighted the significant role ethnic businesses play in advancing New Zealand’s economic aspirations and their ability to navigate international markets.
EX25 built on this foundation and sharpened its focus on global trade and connections, innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and investment, while also highlighting the contribution of ethnic women entrepreneurs. Its theme, Going for Growth – Expanding Ethnic Enterprises, reflects the Government’s commitment to unlocking the full economic potential of Ethnic Communities for New Zealand.
These symposia provide a platform for ethnic businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs to connect with decision-makers, share insights, and shape strategies that strengthen New Zealand’s global competitiveness.
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View highlights from the Ethnic Xchange Symposium 2025.
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Discover what EX25 meant to participants, speakers, and sponsors.
Evidence and insights
When communities see their contributions reflected in evidence, it fosters a sense of belonging and pride. This visibility also enables the public sector to make informed decisions about government investment, policy development and service delivery intervention.
EX25 frequently and intentionally referred to evidence. The updated report, Economic contribution of ethnic minority communities 2001-2023, shows that Ethnic Communities contributed $87 billion to the New Zealand economy in 2023, up from $64 billion in 2021.
Read the Economic contribution of ethnic minority communities 2001-2003 report.
Other research examined the stories of ethnic women entrepreneurs. The panel session, Breaking barriers: The stories of ethnic women entrepreneurs, brought these stories to life, with ethnic women entrepreneurs sharing their experiences of doing business in New Zealand, including some of the challenges they have faced.
From Evidence to Action: Empowering Ethnic Enterprises
The Ethnic Xchange 2025 insights report explores how we can use the perspectives and experiences shared at EX25, as well as the growing evidence base, to promote action across government agencies, business support organisations and the ethnic business community.
See the EX25 insights report, From Evidence to Action: Empowering Ethnic Enterprises (PDF: 5,968KB).
Programme
Through a series of panel discussions, breakout sessions and networking opportunities, participants and speakers explored the factors driving economic growth in New Zealand, and the obstacles getting in the way. Speakers shared their own lived experiences, answered questions from participants, and provided tips and advice. The programme also provided multiple opportunities for networking.
Presentations, speeches and discussions
The programme included a variety of speakers, including Government ministers, high commissioners, researchers and business leaders.
Professor Pasanna Gai, Member, Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, presented the keynote speech, which focused on navigating the "fog" of the global economic environment.
Government ministers, including Hon. Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance, discussed how the Government is backing ethnic entrepreneurs through regulatory reform and investment. Ethnic entrepreneurs on the panel session, Global traders and innovators, shared how they have scaled internationally through innovating in global trade and by building on their own cultural capital and ethnic professional networks.
Other sessions throughout the day highlighted the stories of ethnic women entrepreneurs, how AI can power growth, evidence and data, investment in New Zealand and global trade.
Ethnic Xchange 2025 photos
Partnering for a better New Zealand
EX25 was possible because of deliberate partnerships and a shared commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive economy. Our sponsors – KPMG, Xero, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Auckland Business Chamber, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministry for Women – played a critical role in advancing this agenda.
"Ethnic businesses have this great ability to bring global perspectives and a local resilience, and that’s a powerful combination for growth. They can help us step into the international markets that we really need for New Zealand." - Bineeta Nand, Partner, KPMG New Zealand
"Ethnic Xchange gives us an opportunity to connect with so many ethnic entrepreneurs and [while] we really know that these businesses make such a contribution to the economy, many are accidental entrepreneurs with no formal business training – so that’s where we come in. Our free financial education and mentoring programme Know Your Numbers helps small businesses build the financial knowledge and confidence they need to thrive." - Kelly Asimus, Global Director, Social Impact, Xero
"AUT really values the Ethnic Communities at our university, both our staff and our students, and we are preparing those students for a world of work where we have Ethnic Communities rich[ly represented) in our business communities. We joined Ethnic Xchange to make those connections and support the great work the Ministry for Ethnic Communities is doing to lead us in this. Working together we come up with fresh ideas, we come up with new ways of working and ways that New Zealand can connect with the world around us." - Amy Malcolm, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Engagement, AUT