The Australian Business Summit Council Inc. held its Annual Gala Dinner on 2 May 2025, hosting more than 250 distinguished guests at the Aqua Luna Waterfront Dining in Drummoyne, New South Wales. The occasion marked the official launch of the sixth edition of EKONOMOS, the Council’s flagship publication on business, trade, and investment.
ABSC Inc. president Dr Frank Alafaci PhD welcomed an extensive guest list that included ambassadors, high commissioners, consuls, economists, business leaders, and community figures. Among those present were H.E. Dr Siswo Pramono (Ambassador of Indonesia), H.E. Mr Beka Dvali (Ambassador of Georgia), H.E. Mr Encho Dimitrov (Ambassador of Bulgaria), H.E. Mr Kemal Muftic (Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina), H.E. Ms Arjaree Sriratanaban (Ambassador of Thailand), H.E. Mr Ernesto Cespedes Oropeza (Ambassador of Mexico), and H.E. Mr Diego Felipe Cadena Montenegro (Ambassador of Colombia). Representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Timor-Leste, Pakistan, Malta, the Czech Republic, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, France, and the United States of America were also in attendance.
The event provided a platform for leaders to discuss issues influencing global and domestic markets, with keynote speaker Mr Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist for HSBC in Australia and New Zealand, addressing the current state of the world economy. Drawing on his 12 years at the Reserve Bank of Australia, Bloxham examined the pressures shaping financial conditions and the structural opportunities emerging in Australia’s economic outlook. He also responded to a series of audience questions that ranged across trade, investment, inflation, and geopolitical concerns.
Entertainment for the evening featured Mr Jiwhan Son, an operatic tenor with Opera Australia, and Mr Yue Zheng, a gifted young violinist originally from the People’s Republic of China. Their performances offered moments of cultural grace between the event’s formal proceedings.
During the awards segment, Dr Alafaci honoured contributors to EKONOMOS Issue 6, presenting commemorative plaques to those who authored pieces in the latest edition. Among them were diplomatic leaders such as Dr Tanieris Dieguez La O (Ambassador of Cuba), Dr Wilson Kogo (High Commissioner of Kenya), Dr Elias Munshya (High Commissioner of Zambia), Qamar Zaman (Consul General of Pakistan), David Cheng-Wei Wu (Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office), and Carolina Molina Barrantes on behalf of Costa Rica’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade. Business and thought leaders such as Richard Yuan, Michael Short, Bob Croft, Scott Qin, and Nerva Kay Ghamraoui were similarly recognised.
The magazine itself, described by Dr Alafaci as a “tour de force,” examines a broad array of topics impacting Australia’s economic engagement with the world. Contributors offer perspectives on opportunities in emerging markets, innovation ecosystems, multilateral trade developments, and structural industry changes.
Sponsors were also formally acknowledged, with commemorative plaques presented to Alliance Project Group, Arab Bank Australia Ltd, Drs. ABCD First Aid Training, Trade Window, Serenade Leather, and Greenstone Vineyards. Their support was integral to the success of the event and the publication’s release.
The evening closed with Dr Alafaci expressing gratitude to those who helped bring the dinner together, including members of the ABSC Inc. Board and Councillor Sylvia Alafaci for her central role in planning and logistics. He also thanked Ms Anna Finini and the team at Aqua Luna Waterfront Dining for their meticulous coordination, and several community members for their contributions to the evening’s preparation.
Now in its sixth year under Dr Alafaci’s leadership, the Council continues to position itself as a forum for developing policies that support enterprise, encourage innovation, and build international business links. Through initiatives like EKONOMOS and gatherings such as the Annual Gala Dinner, the ABSC Inc. fosters conversations that link commerce with public policy and practical investment outcomes.
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🌟 ABSC Inc. hosted 250+ guests at its 2025 Gala Dinner in Drummoyne, launching #EKONOMOS Issue 6. Diplomats, economists & business leaders discussed global trade & investment. 🎶 Cultural performances & awards highlighted the evening. #TheIndianSun
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