10 May 2006

Positive result from Manukau trade delegation visit to Tahiti

A trade delegation led by Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis has just completed a successful visit to French Polynesia.

The visit is the latest in a series of Manukau delegations to Pacific countries with the aim of increasing trade as well as other exchanges. It was organised jointly by Manukau City Council and the NZ Pacific Business Council. Most of the 20 businesses represented are from Manukau, but it also included companies from other parts of the country.

The chairman of the NZ Pacific Business Council, Gilbert Ullrich, accompanied Sir Barry and says the visit has been more successful than he anticipated.

“It really has lit a fire. There’s clearly a lot of opportunities there, and we now need to fan the flames.”

A two day trade display was held in Papeete on May 2 and 3, and the display included aluminium, food, paint and security products. It attracted great interest.

Sir Barry is delighted at the outcome.

“Developing new markets always takes time but we’ve made a great beginning,” he says. “The message we got is that our companies have a great reputation and their prices are very competitive. But in the past we haven’t been assertive enough in selling ourselves in the French Polynesia market.

“The display has confirmed that we provide excellent high end products that are great value for money and in many cases cheaper than the current market leaders.

“Our companies can also do short term delivery and backup, which is another plus. Many of our competitors here source from France, so delivery times are long.

“There’ve been some surprises too, such as great interest in kit-set homes and security products. There’s strong demand in French Polynesia for modest housing and cluster homes. Our companies can provide that at very low cost.”

Sir Barry also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the President of French Polynesia, Oscar Temaru, to underpin the new trade initiative, and had talks with Government Ministers,

ENDS

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