Neeraj Lala, Managing Director and CEO of Toyota New Zealand has been announced as co-chair of the Business New Zealand Major Companies Group (MCG) CEO Forum in 2024.
The MCG is comprised of more than 130 of New Zealand’s largest companies, which together account for a significant portion of New Zealand’s GDP. Its objective is to provide strong counsel to the government and other key decision-makers by ensuring business has a strong advocacy voice in policy, business, and economic debate.
The group meets three times a year and provides a vehicle to voice and positively influence the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in New Zealand.
Lala says that one of his key objectives as a business leader is to help drive New Zealand along a trajectory of successful economic growth, while ensuring that this growth has tangible benefits for all New Zealanders. He believes New Zealand’s long-term economic planning must focus on productivity, infrastructure, regional development, international trade, and environmental sustainability.
“We all benefit from New Zealand’s economic success. The collective voice of business, across a multitude of sectors is critical in supporting Government to achieve economic success,” he says.
Lala will co-chair the board alongside the Managing Director of Aurecon, Tracey Ryan. His first duty as co-chair was to chair the Major Companies Group CEO Forum meeting in Auckland last week, where CEOs discussed the development of a long-term plan for New Zealand.
“The development of a long-term plan for NZ Incorporated is a significant priority. As a nation, we need to ensure our long-term goals are unimpeded by the three-year political cycle, particularly as we look to horizon milestones such as the national commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” says Lala.
“A new Government has indicated a willingness to work closely and listen to business. We look forward to working with them on the development of a progressive, long-term view of how we reach our national objectives.
“New Zealand has already shown it has what it takes to shine on a global scale, and we can step that up by working with Government to ensure the implementation of policies that expedite growth while remaining mindful of burdensome regulations, tough economic conditions globally, climate change, and the cost-of-living crisis.
The next MCG meeting will be held on Friday 15 March and will be attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and New Zealand’s top trade negotiator Vitalis Vangelis.
The announcement will extend Lala’s existing governance roles on the Sustainable Business Council NZ’s Advisory Board, as well as being part of the steering committee for the Climate Leader’s Coalition, a champion for change for Global Women, and on the boards of Kinto New Zealand and Toyota Financial Services, and Executive of Toyota Motor Corporation Australia. Lala is also vice president of the Council for the Motor Industry Association of New Zealand and is on the board of KartSport Manawatu.
