Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Trade

2 November 2007

Goff leads trade mission to North America

Trade Minister Phil Goff leads a trade mission to Canada and the United States this evening, flying on Air New Zealand’s inaugural flight to Vancouver.

“The nine-day trade mission travels to Vancouver and Seattle and includes 20 representatives from leading New Zealand manufacturing companies, including in aviation, electronics, engineering, marine and plastics,” Mr Goff said.

“Business representatives will be looking to identify key commercial opportunities in specialised manufacturing and opportunities to partner with Canadian and US companies to access technology, capital, distribution and markets.

“Ken Stevens, New Zealand’s Export Year 2007 champion, whose company Glidepath is an export success story in the region, will accompany the mission.

“I will be meeting Canadian Trade Minister David Emerson, who will be at the airport to welcome the inaugural flight, for bilateral and multilateral trade discussions as well as state and city leaders in British Columbia and Washington State.

“As Minister of Defence, I will also visit Edmonton where New Zealand’s C-130 aircraft are in the process of a major upgrade at L3 Spar Aerospace.

“Both Canada and the United States are key economic partners for New Zealand and the mission reflects the importance of the Pacific Northwest region within this wider relationship.

“Canada is our 12th largest export destination and seventh largest source of tourists. The United States is our second largest export market and investment partner and third largest source of tourists.

“The mission, as part of Export Year 2007, therefore targets key trading partners for New Zealand.

“Air New Zealand’s decision to launch a non-stop service between Auckland and Vancouver represents a huge step in strengthening our contact and relationships with the region.

“The direct service has the potential to double the nearly 50,000 visitors to New Zealand from Canada each year.

“It offers significant economic benefits and the chance to strengthen our longstanding relationship with Canada.

“Air New Zealand’s continued expansion into new markets reflects the growing strength of our country’s flag carrier and is good news for its majority shareholders, the New Zealand public,” Mr Goff said.

“In Seattle, one of the important meetings will be with Boeing to discuss areas for building further collaboration with New Zealand businesses. I will also be meeting with the Gates Foundation, the Mayor and Lieutenant Governor, as well as celebrating Seattle’s sister city relationship with Christchurch,” Mr Goff said.

Contact: Richard Trow (press secretary) 04 471 9794 or 021 278 7233
richard.trow@parliament.govt.nz

All Phil Goff’s media releases and speeches are posted at www.beehive.govt.nz

Those taking part in the Ministerial-led trade mission are:

- Air New Zealand
- Acma Industries
- Allison Avionics Ltd
- BELTAS
- Cavotec MSL Holdings Ltd
- Enviro Energy Ltd
- Glidepath
- HotRot Exports (NZ) Ltd
- Hunter Filling Systems Ltd
- IFP Group
- Metalcraft Engineering Company Ltd
- Ranfurly Sales and Services Ltd
- Rocket Lab Ltd
- Safe Air Ltd
- Stabi-Craft Marine
- Trip Convergence Ltd
- Wairarapa Olives
- Windsor Engineering Group Ltd
- New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE).

ENDS

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