NZ Trade Policy: Maximising Opportunities For NZ Inc Abroad
January 21st, 2010
Cabinet’s External Relations and Defence Committee had its first look this week at the review of NZ’s offshore posts ordered by Murray McCully. Decisions arising from the review are expected from Cabinet in the New Year. In the meantime McCully expects significant consultations involving other departments besides the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on how to improve co-ordination and maximise opportunities for posts to present a united “NZ Inc” front overseas. McCully recognises this requires compromise among all agencies and MFAT has been careful to avoid a “foreign affairs” focus. In some cases, agencies have different priorities which is hard to balance. For example, NZ Trade and Enterprise is scaling back its Pacific representation because of limited business opportunities for NZ exporters. However the Key Govt has elevated diplomacy in the region, based on its election policy of intensifying its focus on Asia and the Pacific, and making support for exporters the most important priority for offshore posts. McCully is not expected to disclose until next year whether new posts are to be opened or others, mostly in Europe, scaled back or closed.
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Duncan Cotterill