Latest ICT stats show export growth potential

Latest ICT stats show export growth potential

Year 2002 statistics just released for ICT emphasise the potential that exists for significant export growth in the industry but we must continue to find ways to stimulate the domestic market sector into a more buoyant state, says the Executive Director of the Information Technology Association of New Zealand (ITANZ), Mr Jim O'Neill.

"The figures showing a four percent downturn in sales of goods and services to a level of $7.1 billion reflect the end of the global dot-com boom, the impact of the terrorist actions in the U.S. and the deepening international economic slowdown happening at the time.

"The New Zealand industry has come through the period in better shape than many ICT sectors abroad -- for example, the US industry was down approximately 30 percent.

"But the fact that 2002 saw a rise of 17 percent to $968 million in exports of IT goods and services is very encouraging, particularly as within this figure is an increase of 36 percent in computer services. This demonstrates the ability of the industry to compete on the global stage, particularly if there is a strong New Zealand market that encourages innovative technology uses that can be exploited around the world.”

Mr O'Neill says ITANZ believes industry growth is currently at a 0-2 percent level, which reflects the strong performance of the New Zealand economy, rather than any real improvement in the sector overall.

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