HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE

21 JULY 2016

International audience for business in Lower Hutt

Ambassadors and other distinguished embassy guests met with Hutt Valley business leaders at an evening to showcase the positives of Lower Hutt and the opportunities and reasons to do business here.

Hutt City Council, Woburn International Group, and Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce co-hosted the event at The Dowse.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace outlined some of the recent investment in the city and future projects. He cited the 68 per cent increase in the value of building consents over the last four years as a good indicator of growth.

He said a strong connection with our Sister Cities in Minoh, Japan and Tempe, Arizona shows the great opportunities in international relationships. We are seeing growing business connections with Tempe; a world leader in high tech. industry and innovation. International student education is another potential growth sector that already brings an estimated $5 million per annum to the local economy.

Mark Futter of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, the fastest growing chamber in the region, also spoke on the resurgence in economic growth. He outlined some of the ways in which the Chamber supports this, including the Ambassadors’ Program for Global Business Relationships that already has interest from the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic.

The evening also marked 25 years of the Woburn International Group operating in Lower Hutt. Over this time the company has helped to attract investors, entrepreneurs and highly skilled migrants to the Hutt Valley. The company offers a full service, including immigration, connecting NZ businesses offshore and settlement support.

Mayor Wallace spoke of Managing Director June Ranson’s distinction in being only the second person admitted into the NZ Immigration Hall of Fame and the company’s significant contribution to the city.

Mayor Wallace was greatly appreciative of the large number of embassy representatives at the evening. “Guests have said how impressed they are by the progress evident in Lower Hutt and that they look forward to further discussions, some of which are underway.”

ENDS

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