Shipping costs, pathways to China, new VC funds and more...

Shipping costs, pathways to China, new VC funds and more...

Message from the executive director
Shipping costs are a hot topic at the moment as many exporters are finding the rate rises being set across the board by all shipping lines to be hard to bear.
We believe shipping lines should be able to cooperate on route and slot sharing, but they should not be exempt from the Commerce Act when it comes to setting rates.

We have made a submission on this which isn't public yet, but in the meantime you can find out more about our views here.
Catherine Beard
027 463 3212 or cbeard@exportnz.org.nz

Trade Update
As New Zealand begins negotiations seeking accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, I look at the what opportunities this could open up for New Zealand exporters currently excluded from the Government procurement markets of some parties.
I also look at the growing momentum behind a negotiation of what is being called the International Services Agreement (ISA). Our very own Phil O'Reilly represented New Zealand at a conference held recently in Washington DC by the Global Services Coalition to try and boost the chances of launching this negotiation. More...
C Beard

TPP comes to New Zealand
Round 15 of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations are coming to our very own Auckland from 3-12 December, at the SkyCity Convention Centre.
There will be a programme for registered stakeholders from TPP participating countries on Friday 7 December. The programme will include opportunities for stakeholders to make short presentations related to TPP, and a briefing with TPP Chief Negotiators.
Further information is posted on TPP Talk.

Pathways to Regional Markets: ASEAN and China, 6 Nov
This one-day event will highlight how New Zealand businesses can take advantage of these FTAs across a range of sectors, and how they can be used in a number of ways to create pathways into these regional markets.
Workshops will include:
• Selling Kiwi innovation to the world: Commercialising research & development
• Practical steps to getting to market under the FTAs
• Learning from New Zealand: Education as an export
• Developing regional partnerships: Attracting FDI and investing in Asia
• Beyond commodity exports: Focus on food and beverage
More...

Go Trace conference 31 Oct
GoTrace is annual event which brings together scientists, food producers, government agencies and service providers to advance the science of food provenancing and supply chain integrity.
The day will be export and producer focused, with science solutions that add value and protection to exports. More...

Breakfast with Prime Minister John Key, 31 Oct
The NZ International Business Forum & ABAC are hosting a breakfast with Prime Minster John Key where he will share his observations on the outcome of the APEC Summit in Russia, and provide a briefing on progress towards free trade and investment in the Asia Pacific and New Zealand's relationships with key trade investments partners. More...

$200 million co-investment partnership announced
The New Zealand Venture Investment Fund and Taiwan’s National Development Fund have agreed a co-investment partnership which could invest up to $200 million into venture capital funds in the two countries.
Under the partnership, NZVIF and NDF will invest up to $25 million each into new venture capital funds in New Zealand and Taiwan. More...

$50m lost as cuts to tariffs go unclaimed
Michael Swain - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' former consul-general in Shanghai - told businesses at the ExportNZ conference in Hawke's Bay recently that Kiwi companies are missing out on at least $50 million a year in free trade savings with China. As many as half of all products exported are not receiving tariff reductions or exemptions they are eligible for. More...

Exporters' Experiences with Corruption, 29 Oct
One of the realities New Zealand companies face when trading overseas is dealing with corrupt practices. To help with this challenge, Transparency International NZ is sharing Exporters' Experiences with Corruption through a seminar at which the Right Honourable Tim Groser, Minister of Trade and Minister for Climate Change, will launch this new study. More...

MFAT Partnerships Fund - new timeline
There is a revised timeline for Round 1 of the New Zealand Partnerships for International Development fund (‘Partnerships Fund’).
The International Development Advisory and Selection Panel will now meet to consider proposals mid-December 2012. All applicants will be notified of the selection outcome by Christmas. The design process for successful proposals will commence from January 2013. There is no change to the Round 1 application close-off date of Friday 16 November.

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