Global Investors To Support New Zealand Innovation

Global Investors To Support New Zealand Innovation

Auckland, 23 January, 2003: New Zealand’s culture of creativity, innovation and ingenuity will be on show at a major investor conference in Auckland next month.

Investment Regatta 2003 – Navigating from Ingenuity to Profit will bring together prominent global and New Zealand business leaders to explore opportunities for partnerships and investment in New Zealand innovation.

The conference on 10-11 February is being run by Investment New Zealand.

Acting chief executive Ross Campbell says Investment Regatta 2003 will focus on the key sectors of ICT, biotech, creative and niche manufacturing.

“We have identified these sectors as providing major opportunities for growth and the creation of wealth in New Zealand.

”Accordingly, some of this country’s most innovative companies will be profiled at the conference including Genesis Research, Tru-Test Ltd, EMS-Global and Orion Systems,” he says.

Ross Campbell says Investment Regatta 2003 has a quality and calibre of speaker and participants unseen before in New Zealand.

“These include Sir Tony O’Reilly (Independent News & Media), Dr Hermann Hauser (venture capitalist and founder of Amadeus Capital Partners), Kevin Roberts (Saatchi & Saatchi), Stephen Tindall (The Tindall Foundation) and former prime minister the Rt. Hon. James Bolger, among others.”

An international panel will challenge the investment case for New Zealand and share their experience and investment expectations.

Ross Campbell says Investment Regatta 2003 coincides with the Millennium Super Yacht regatta and immediately precedes the start of America’s Cup racing.

“The timing was deliberate as we are leveraging off the tremendous international interest in New Zealand generated by the America’s Cup.

Ross Campbell says it is vital that New Zealand businesses attract more investment.

“New Zealanders produce more innovation and creativity per capita than most other places in the world.

“But our high level of entrepreneurship and great ideas often do not translate into international business and economic success.

“To exploit our innovation resource, New Zealand needs overseas investors for economic growth,” he says. New Zealand’s stability, competitive cost structure and potential high returns will be highlighted to foster future partnerships and investment.

More than 300 people are expected to confirm their attendance at the Investment Regatta 2003.

Investment Regatta 2003 is an initiative of Investment New Zealand and will be held at Auckland’s Hilton Hotel on Princes Wharf.

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