2 July, 2002

Minister for Information Technology Paul Swain said he was delighted to attend ‘Digits to Dollars: A Manukau City E-Commerce Event’.

Digits to Dollars is the eigth regional e-commerce event since the Government’s E-commerce Summit was held in 2000. The regional events are funded by the Government and run in partnership with the local communities. The events aim to celebrate and promote the uptake of e-commerce in the regions.

Mr Swain, who has attended all of the eight events, said he was excited by the way New Zealanders all over the country are using the internet to enhance their businesses.

“Manukau is no exception,” he said. “Two of the businesses attending today’s event - Dawn Raid Entertainment and Jenniferann.com – are great examples of young kiwi entrepreneurs using the internet. “Dawn Raid Entertainment is a great example of the knowledge economy in action. They are using the internet to help take the music and culture of South Auckland to the world. Jenniferann.com is one of New Zealand’s most successful e-tailers, with almost three-quarters of her sales to the US market.”

Mr Swain encouraged Manukau City to set up its own local organsation to promote e-commerce. “If we are to get back into the top half of the OECD then we need to accelerate the uptake of e-commerce throughout New Zealand,” he said. “This is all about working together to build a better New Zealand – one where all can particiapte in the knowledge economy game.”

Ends

© Scoop Media