Trade Rules Ok – For Taranaki And Wanganui !

Media Release – 11 July 2002 www.tln.org.nz

Trade Rules Ok – For Taranaki And Wanganui !

New Zealand’s regions stand to benefit as much as cities from expanded trade and better trade rules, say the Chambers of Commerce and the Trade Liberalisation Network.

“Trade is the lifeblood of the economy in Taranaki and Wanganui, said Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Phil Lewin. Mr Lewin was addressing Chamber gatherings in New Plymouth and Wanganui on 11 July. “Dairy production and processing, boat building and engineering in Taranaki have benefited from the export boom as have meat, leather and manufacturing industries in Wanganui. But export businesses face new challenges as exchange rates rise. The Chamber stands ready to help drive the regions’ export effort”.

Trade Liberalisation Network Executive Director Stephen Jacobi said that removing trade barriers and improved trade rules meant better conditions for local exporters of both agricultural and industrial products. “Fewer barriers mean increased returns and increased returns mean more jobs for local economies. Six out of ten jobs in New Zealand are related to trade in some way. Trade is not just about corporate profits. It’s about jobs, opportunities and people.”

Mr Jacobi said that preliminary results from an online survey on the TLN website of views of trade were very encouraging. “Over 97 percent of respondents agree that trade is significant or very significant for the economy. Nearly 99 percent agree that trade has a significant or very significant impact on economic growth. This calls for strong involvement by New Zealand in initiatives aimed at opening up markets overseas. That’s a message political parties campaigning in the current election would do well to heed”.

The survey is available on the TLN website www.tln.org.nz. Results from the survey will be posted on the website on Friday 12 July.

Mr Lewin said that the Chamber was a founding member and strong supporter of the Trade Liberalisation Network. “As the voice of local business we need to support all initiatives that lead to better outcomes for our members”.

For further information
Phil Lewin, Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce, cell 021 956 026
Stephen Jacobi, TLN Executive Director, cell 021 490 974

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