Looking ahead from Export Year 2007

Looking ahead from Export Year 2007

Media Release 16 November 2007

Helping businesses – from beginners to those with long experience – navigate the tricky seas of exporting is what Export New Zealand is all about. As such, Export New Zealand is pleased to give its support to Export Year: Platform for the Future launched today (16 November) by Minister for Economic Development Pete Hodgson.

Export New Zealand agrees with Mr Hodgson that Export Year 2007 cannot be seen as a one-off effort. Putting the spotlight on exporting and its contribution the economy is a valued and important undertaking – but exporting is a year-in, year-out job.

“Export Year 2007 is just the start of what needs to be an enduring commitment to substantially improving New Zealand’s export performance,” said Bob Walters, CEO of Export New Zealand, a non-governmental organisation focused on helping exporters and export service providers grow their business in the international marketplace.

“The collaboration of the public and private sectors has shown that this model is the one to follow for the long-term.”

One of the tangible outcomes of this public-private partnership will be the ongoing New Zealand New Thinking Export breakfasts series. Throughout the year, Export New Zealand and NZ Trade and Enterprise worked together to provide more than 3,000 exporters a forum to learn from other successful exporters. This first-rate series will continue.

Translating the vision of a New Zealand economy boosted by strong exports into reality will need good collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Government backing is critical but it is up to business to get out and export our goods around the world, strengthening our economy and improving our quality of life. Export New Zealand will be right there to keep the momentum going as it supports and encourages current and future exporters as they meet the challenges in the ever-rewarding export sector.

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