Laying Out Practical Steps To Higher Production

Chambers Lay Out Practical Steps To Higher Productivity

“Innovation is the engine of faster growth for New Zealand” said Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Philip Lewin today.

Mr Lewin was speaking at the launch in Dunedin of “Innovation: the key to doubling our rate of productivity growth”, a policy blueprint put together by all of New Zealand’s 30 Chambers of Commerce. This document is part of their “Achieving Faster Growth for New Zealand” series which was kicked off in February.

“Chambers of Commerce represent the interests of businesses in their communities throughout New Zealand” said Mr Lewin. “Our goal is to promote vibrant regional and national economies that create sustainable business development and employment opportunities.” “As a nation, we need to improve our ability to innovate if we are to more than double our rate of productivity growth, and achieve a 50% larger economy over the next decade. Chamber member businesses up and down the country have an important part to play in this.” “Our publication today sets out some starting points. These are to: begin lifting the next generation’s understanding of the links between innovation, economic growth and well being; upgrade the dialogue between business people and educators so there is better understanding of their respective roles in making New Zealanders better off; heighten awareness of innovation in the education sector; improve our returns from our current public sector R&D spend, and help the flow of capital into commercialisation activities; and further help our business people to lift their managerial and entrepreneurial skills.

“This is only the start of the journey, but by the end of 2003 we should be well on our way. At that point, Chambers of Commerce nationwide will be reviewing progress and planning our activities for the next few years” concluded Mr Lewin.

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