Faster Growth: How to get it, how to keep it

12 February 2003

PRESS RELEASE BY NEW ZEALAND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

“Faster Growth for New Zealand – How to get it: how to keep it”

“This project is about how to make New Zealanders considerably better off”, said Wellington Regional Chamber CEO Philip Lewin this afternoon.

Mr Lewin was commenting on the launch in Wellington today of “Achieving Faster Growth for New Zealand”, a policy blueprint put together by all 30 of New Zealand’s Chambers of Commerce.

“The booklet we’ve put out today provides an overview about improving New Zealand’s growth – why it is important; what causes it; how we are doing in New Zealand; and what will have to happen over the next decade if we are to grow faster”.

Mr Lewin continued: “We see this booklet as a resource for people who want to look at these issues in some depth. The real problem with much of the debate about growth is that it stops at the point where the sound bites have been written”.

“Political parties and lobby groups throw slogans around but don’t often get the rubber on the road. Chambers of Commerce bring a practical and pragmatic view to political issues”, stressed Mr Lewin. “We want to go beyond just talking about how we are going to get growth, and move to a practical plan to knock some things off over the next ten years that will really contribute.

“So we’re producing a series of booklets covering each of the five main areas identified in today’s Growth Strategy document. They will set out practical steps to move our economy along the way to faster growth”.

“We plan to use these to foster debate, to build agreement throughout New Zealand, and then to get on with the job” concluded Mr Lewin.

ENDS

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