If anyone doubts the importance of Free Trade Agreements check out this factoid.  Merchandise exports to our FTA trading partners collectively have increased by 43% over the last five years, while exports to the rest of the world have fallen by 6%.  We simply cannot be left on the side-lines of free trade deals or we will lose our ability to compete.  Check out my Trade Update for more..
Also a big congratulations to the Supreme winners of the Air NZ Cargo ExportNZ Auckland Awards Tegel Foods – just shows what a company with some scale and great products can achieve in export markets in a relatively short space of time.

Catherine Beard
027 463 3212 or cbeard@exportnz.org.nz

This month's trade update looks at the Prime Minister's trip to Washington DC and the opportunity to influence TPP outcomes. It also touches on how free trade talks with other countries are progressing. More...

Spectacular growth has won Tegel Foods the Supreme Award in the 2014 Air New Zealand Cargo Export NZ Auckland export awards. Other category winners included Phitek Systems, Southern Spars, Intenza, 1907 Water Ltd, and Straker Translations. More...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) needs to hear about challenges faced by exporting manufacturing, processing and forestry companies, to help the government decide which problems to tackle in the RCEP Free Trade Agreement negotiation. Have your say and help your business by completing the online survey.

It takes about 15 minutes. Alternatively you can contact MFAT directly at rcep@mfat.govt.nz or 04 439 8183. More...

BusinessNZ, in partnership with Deloitte and Chapman Tripp, has released a free downloadable guide on bribery and corruption risks and strategies for NZ businesses. It's especially valuable if you're operating in foreign markets. More...

MFAT would like to better understand the priorities and interests of exporters operating in the environmental goods and services sector. Your input will assist MFAT trade negotiators to advance your interests in a variety of upcoming and on-going trade negotiations - the Environmental Goods Plurilateral that NZ and 13 other countries will launch in July this year, and the on-going Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) negotiations. More...

Please take 5-10 minutes to complete this survey.

Alternatively you can contact Tim.Wang@mfat.govt.nz  / 04 439 8628 for environmental goods or Lawry.Perrott@mfat.govt.nz / 04 439 8418 for environmental services.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has been giving the world a taste of New Zealand.

In Dubai, New Zealand was centre stage for the 2014 Taste New Zealand chef competition. ​Targeted at professional chefs, the competition aims to raise awareness of the diversity and quality of New Zealand food and drink products available in the United Arab Emirates amongst chefs, buyers, and food service and retail industry leaders. Last year, the competition helped NZTE customers secure $4 million in new deals. More...

The Sustainable 60 Awards set the standard for what it means to be truly sustainable. The entry process allows you to tell a compelling story of sustainability and have it reviewed, measured and validated.  Entry is open now and will close on Friday 11 July. Visit www.sustainable60.co.nz to have your business recognised.

The APEC Business Travel Card provides visa-free and expedited entry into most of the APEC economies. APEC are currently reviewing the scheme, and inviting current and future cardholders to provide feedback and suggestions on how they could potentially improve it.

The survey will take about 10-15 minutes. Results will be available to respondents once the final report is approved.

If you do not have a card, you can apply for one by going to www.immigration.govt.nz/apec/

More... 

Exporter magazine is offering readers a free digital issue subscrition. Each issue is crammed with informative, educational and inspiring articles to help export businesses launch and grow.

The magazine profiles successful Kiwi export companies and personalities, export markets and export sectors. Offering up informed viewpoints, news and a range of export-related feature stories. More...

There are some great opportunities for improving your business through learnings at seminars, workshops and events.

To see what's coming up, go to the ExportNZ home page and scroll down to see what's happening around the country – from a visit to the BBC Technologies Plant to learning about opportunities in PNG.

Missed an issue of The Exporter? Click here to access all previous issues in our Newsletter Archive.