Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton wants to hear about New Zealanders' experiences of trading with Singapore since the Singapore Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) came into force on 1 January this year.

He said that the New Zealand Government entered into the CEP with Singapore in the belief that it would deliver reciprocal benefits, encourage trade and investment and significantly enhance our economic partnership with what is a key Asian economy.

"Now a year since it was signed, we want to hear how it has impacted on New Zealanders, and where New Zealanders see us deriving further benefits."

He encouraged the public to make submissions by 16 October.

The first ministerial review of the CEP takes place on 27 November in Singapore between Mr Sutton and his Singapore counterpart Brigadier-General George Yeo.

From next week, members of the public interested in making a submission online are invited to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website (www.mfat.govt.nz) to fill in a questionnaire on the CEP.

Submissions can be sent direct to the Ministry: c/- Singapore CEP Submissions Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Private Bag 18-901 Wellington

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

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