PM's Business Summit Warmly Welcomed

The Prime Minister's invitation to business leaders to attend an economic summit next month is timely and most welcome, says the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern).

"New Zealand business will find the PM's initiative reassuring," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"A business summit to explore ways to lift our economic performance is timely and will be beneficial.

"We urge the Prime Minister not to ring fence the discussion.

"Rather, we need to be able to air imaginative and creative ideas.

"A major bottleneck is plainly within Government's own ministries and departments, particularly in the straitjacketed thinking of Treasury and the Ministry of Economic Development. They must become open to new ideas and ways to achievement.

"It is vital that Government's own agencies get with the programme, actively engage on realising Government's programme, not go looking for reasons why something is not possible.

"Maintaining the status quo is not an option."

Further comments: Alasdair Thompson tel 09 367 0911 (bus) 09 303 3951 (hme) 025 982 024

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