First Building Export Markets report positive, with caveats

Any work to boost our exports has to be positive and it’s very pleasing to see the importance placed on exporting in the government’s growth agenda, the Employers & Manufacturers Association says.

“The ambition to lift New Zealand’s exports from 30 to 40 per cent of GDP by 2025 is exactly the sort of goal we need to aspire to,” said EMA chief executive Kim Campbell.

“But we can’t tell, and there’s no way of knowing from the report if the policies and measures outlined can, or will deliver on the goal. 

“Since the report is a statement largely of current government policies and New Zealand’s attributes it can only deliver more of the same performance we’re already achieving.

“We will likely need some game changing policies if our businesses are to be galvanized into more exporting and reach their potential.

“Nonetheless, if all government ministers got out and backed this package loudly and strongly and frequently, their leadership could trigger an exporting renaissance.

“Otherwise, in the absence of a sustained national exporting campaign, a significantly better economic performance delivered through exporting will require preferential tax rates for exporters and/or other measures that attract foreign investment and offset the strong $NZ, the ETS, the RMA and other obstacles to our business competitiveness.”