Minority Business Entrepreneur: September/October 2011
NMSDC’s Global-Link (www.mbemag.com)
By Eric J. Vicioso
The National Minority Supplier Diversity Council’s (NMSDC) Global-Link is growing stronger every day. It is now in five countries (Australia, Canada, China, the United Kingdom and South Africa). Joset Wright, president of the NMSDC, is very supportive of this international program and she has participated in events sponsored by the Australian, Canadian, and Chinese councils, and is preparing to join an early October business matchmaking mission to South Africa. In addition, she is looking into the possibility of expanding NMSDC’s support for its international affiliates and their certified suppliers, and has inserted this interest into the NMSDC’s strategic planning discussions.
NMSDC is proud of the accomplishments of its international affiliates and is particularly pleased with the major endeavours and milestones reached by the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC).
AIMSC had a very successful year in 2010, and the first half of 2011 is looking equally promising. The organization has built such momentum because the Australian government is fully supportive and closely tied to it.
Since former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008 speech apologizing to the Australian aboriginal population for the wrongs of the past, the government has provided continued support for aboriginal development; is taking steps toward changing old policies to better accommodate aboriginal success; and is applying a policy of giving a hand up, not a hand out, to diminish the welfare mentality and to bring true richness and economic vitality to the aboriginal population.
In little over 18 months of operation, AIMSC has facilitated almost $9 million in contracts, and $4.5 million in transactions between its members and certified suppliers. In April, the Minister of Finance and Deregulation, Penny Wong, and Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Mark Arbib approved the first indigenous training, employment, and supplier plan under the Gillard Government’s [so named for Prime Minister Julia Gillard enhanced indigenous opportunities policy (IPO). The IPO not only supports the work of AIMSC, but also works to close the gap. AIMSC has also firmed up plans for its second national conference, business opportunity fair and gala dinner in April, 2012. The NMSDC is already preparing to lead a business mission to Australia and plans to participate in all of AIMSC’s events.
AIMSC now has 111 members and 81 certified suppliers, with more members than any of the other four NMSDC international affiliates, and second only to the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council in the number of certified minority suppliers.
Eric J. Vicioso is the director of international programs for the NMSDC. For more information about the Global-Link program visit www.nmsdc.org.
The First Step Sydney
A supplier diversity training program for AIMSC members
Sydney – 23 & 24 May 2012
Melbourne – 20 & 21 June 2012
Brisbane – 22 & 23 August 2012
Perth – 21 & 22 November 2012
