10 May 2000

Boost For Auckland City’s Economic Growth Strategy

Auckland City has put $100,000 into strategies and promotional materials that it hopes will promote and strengthen the local economy.

In the past, Council has helped business at a direct level but other agencies have now replaced this leaving Council with the role of facilitator.

“Work will now go ahead on various sector initiatives which can be built on in the new financial year,” says City Attractions Committee chairperson, Councillor Victoria Carter.

“These activities should support elements of the local economy. We want to create an environment which will promote new initiatives and partnerships of benefit to Auckland’s economy. We see Council’s role as a facilitator – a partner with business – something Council hasn’t had a good reputation at doing previously.”

Activities include:

 A programme ‘Creating Positive Ground’ to involve business, investment and research communities in the issues and actions needed for Auckland to lead in the “new economy”.

 A forum for small to medium-sized businesses, bringing them together with organisations which provide resources to build workplace skills and identify opportunities for business growth and research and development.

 A project to create high quality Auckland marketing materials that will support “Aucklanders marketing Auckland”. These will be based on materials used in the TradeNZ bid to attract investment by the multinational Motorola.

 Continued support for Auckland, Destination for Education initiatives, which will include a leading role for Auckland City in launching new TradeNZ marketing material here and in Pusan, Auckland City’s Korean sister city, to promote Auckland’s educational institutions. This includes a website targeting international students, a brochure which will be launched internationally in the next fortnight, and an industry event which will highlight the education sector’s role in Auckland.

Cr Carter comments: “We have a higher unemployment rate than the national average so we must work with Auckland business and relevant agencies to see if there are ways to reduce this.

“We’ve noticed a need for material that sells Auckland, the city. Many companies go offshore to sell themselves but they need something to sell the city. It is in our interests to make sure Auckland is seen as an international livable city and that is what some of these tools will do.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Cr Victoria Carter, tel: 529 1121

LJ/JG

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