Website Launch As Part Of Global Trade Initiative

TRADE NEW ZEALAND MEDIA RELEASE

New Zealand Website Launched As Part Of Global Trade Initiative

Wellington, May 14, 2002 -- Trade New Zealand is launching an online service to help New Zealand exporters access electronic marketplaces, as part of its membership of the global eMarketservices initiative.

Late last year Trade New Zealand joined with seven other Government Trade Promotion agencies in a landmark technology alliance to provide independent information on emarkets, based on the internet.

The agencies provide a resource of unbiased, independent information via the group’s website, http://www.eMarketservices.com , which is a not-for-profit project and is based in Sweden.

Trade New Zealand National Manager for eMarketservices Brigitte Reed says Trade New Zealand has now built a New Zealand version of the site, www.eMarketservices.govt.nz , which includes local case studies and easy access to white papers and the parent site.

“The site enables us to provide relevant and up-to-date information about suitable e-markets around the world. We’ve recognised e-marketplaces and e-commerce as a valuable channel and marketing tool for exporters to add to their toolbox when tackling offshore markets,” she says.

Ms Reed says eMarketservices.govt.nz can reduce the risk for exporters looking to trade online, starting with a checklist is assess the suitability of the business for online trading.

“The use of e-marketplaces is a new area for exporters and one that is still evolving and changing constantly, requiring thorough investigation. By accessing this pool of regularly updated and independent information exporters can reduce the risk of going it alone or unprepared into this new area of business,” Ms Reed says.

eMarketservices.govt.nz will be launched at Trade New Zealand’s National Export Conference on May 15. Helen Lassen from Austrade, the Australian trade promotion agency, and Jonas Bygdeson, from the Swedish Trade Council, will present a seminar on online trading via live videoconference from Sweden (NZTime 9-9.30AM May 15). As well as discussing the current online situation, they will discuss eMarketplaces and its benefits to exporters.

The eMarketservices parent site was launched in 2000 and is now contributed to by 10 trade promotion agencies from New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

EMarketservices is one of many online services Trade New Zealand is launching. NZ Exporters Online, a directory that is the foundation service of the agency’s largest e-business project, has also already launched with other initiatives in the project to be rolled out over later months.

For more information contact:

Brigitte Reed
National Manager for eMarketservices
Trade New Zealand
Ph: 04 496 6495
Brigitte.Reed@tradenz.govt.nz

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