An efficient solution for councils and organisations, Eastern Bridge offers strategic management of international ties, acting as a cost-effective outsourced Foreign Affairs office. Enhance global connections effortlessly.
Established in 2014, Eastern Bridge Consulting has steadily grown its International Relations Service since 2015. Initially, our primary focus was to help local governments navigate the intricacies of sister-city relationships. However, recognising the broader requirements of our clients, we have adapted our offerings. Presently, our services empower economic development initiatives and foster community well-being through leveraging international relations. This pivot has enabled us to serve an extensive client base including local councils, iwi, economic development agencies, tourism promotion bodies, and various business and industry associations.
Over the years, Eastern Bridge's International Relations Service has refined and expanded its offering. Recognising that each client has unique needs and goals, we dedicate ourselves to understanding these objectives and plotting a clear roadmap towards them. Beyond just making introductions, we offer comprehensive support. The table below will elucidate the breadth and depth of our offerings, assuring potential clients of the holistic support we provide.
Bridging linguistic gaps, ensuring clear, effective global communication.
Tailoring blueprints for international success, based on client-specific goals.
Streamlining international travel and visits, ensuring smooth, productive interactions.
Crafting media campaigns to elevate your local message worldwide.
Pinpointing and connecting with potential global partners for growth.
Verifying international entities, guaranteeing trustworthy collaborations.
Implementing strategies to ensure safe, secure international engagements.
Implementing strategies to ensure safe, secure international engagements.
Nurturing and maintaining fruitful global partnerships for the long-term.
Overseeing international initiatives, ensuring on-time, successful delivery.
At Eastern Bridge Consulting, our diverse services seamlessly interlink, creating a holistic international relations framework. From strategic planning to relationship management, each facet reinforces the other, ensuring our clients receive a comprehensive, robust International Relations service supporting local economic development, youth development and community well-being.
Since our inception in 2014, we have been at the forefront of managing international relations. Our seasoned journey has involved supporting hundreds of local government diplomacy initiatives. Prospective clients can peruse our portfolio of work and case studies housed in our media centre for a detailed understanding.
Affordability and efficiency are keystones of our service. With our extensive resources, we possess diverse skill-sets, offering clients expertise that would be challenging for smaller entities to replicate. Our pricing model is straightforward: beyond a nominal retainer, clients pay only for utilised services. Given our specialisation, we advise on cost-efficient strategies. We understand budget constraints and frequently assist clients in procuring external funds, such as government grants or business sponsorships, further easing their financial commitment.
Eastern Bridge takes pride in the adaptability of its International Relations service. Upon contracting, clients are usually set up with a minimal monthly retainer covering core activities. But beyond that, we offer an array of additional services, like translation or delegation planning, which clients can choose based on emergent needs, ensuring that our support remains relevant amidst the evolving international relations landscape.
Protecting our client's information and interests is paramount. It's not uncommon for us to enter Non-Disclosure Agreements, especially when sensitive commercial details are involved. In the past Eastern Bridge has had to work with clients and elected officials in handling sensitive issues, we always do this with the upmost discretion.
On initiating a partnership, our primary step is to formulate a comprehensive International Relations Plan. This dynamic document, which evolves with time, outlines the client’s overarching goals, strategies to achieve them, and success metrics. Clients then designate a manager who becomes our primary contact, ensuring streamlined communication.
Our commitment extends beyond transactional services. We offer client training and timely advice. This could be in the form of well-structured reports or impromptu guidance over a call. We’ve curated various International Relations programs and frequently conduct interactive workshops. Notably, our cultural awareness and delegation pre-departure sessions have garnered significant appreciation.
Communication is pivotal in international relations. Eastern Bridge has invested in smart digital technologies to reduce the high cost of multilingual communication. We have developed and trained our own language learning model to assist us with translation and real-time interpretation. Because automated translation is not fool-proof we also have a team of translators covering 10 languages who ensure we provide natural translation.
With a diverse team hailing from across Asia, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, and partners across the Asia and in the Pacific, we are well-equipped to navigate varying cultural landscapes. Our CEO, Simon Appleton, fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Korean, exemplifies our commitment to cross-cultural expertise.
Eastern Bridge Consulting stands out as more than just a translation service provider. Our team, comprised of adept professionals, brings a holistic range of skills that transcend the conventional scope of international relations. This extensive expertise spans from Economic and Business Development, encompassing areas like Trade, Export Education, Investment, Business Attraction, Tourism, and Migrant Attraction, to vital facets of Community Well-Being such as Project Management, Community Engagement, and Grant Applications. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that we are well-equipped to serve diverse needs, offering a comprehensive package that promises tangible outcomes for our clients
Our approach to client engagement is as diverse as the range of clients we serve. For smaller entities, Eastern Bridge takes the lead in developing and overseeing their international programmes, ensuring a seamless experience. In contrast, for those clients who have a designated point of contact, we collaborate closely, aligning our strategies to their visions. Furthermore, for organisations that already have established International Relations teams, our expertise acts as an invaluable extension, enhancing their existing capacities and ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in every endeavour.
In a rapidly evolving global scenario, staying updated is crucial. Eastern Bridge is relentless in its pursuit of knowledge. As geopolitics and New Zealand's domestic policies shift, we continually adapt, ensuring our strategies remain aligned, and our clients always benefit.
