It's always good to see clear examples of how the work we do at ExportNZ provides value to members, and business in general.

Most recently, that came in the form of a conversation with Snowball Effect founder and director, Francis Reid. Their story (see below) demonstrates how we're able to take the feedback we get from exporters and inspire the private sector to meet unmet needs.

So to all those exporters that take the time to full in our survey’s – your feedback can fall on fertile ground.

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

This month's trade update suggests an agreement with Korea  could be close. TPP negotions aren't faring quite so well, but the GCC agreement is off to a positive start. More...

Two years on from the ExportNZ press release that helped to inspire Snowball Effect, the founders' vision of “a New Zealand economy, fuelled by emerging businesses, backed by everyday Kiwi investors” is beginning to take shape. More...

Paypal founder Peter Thiel's 2012 investment in Xero caught the attention of US media - and the eye of several other top tier US venture capitalists who have followed Thiel's lead and invested in promising New Zealand companies. More...

A major boost to New Zealand workplace productivity could come from an unlikely source – lifting the literacy and numeracy skills of your employees. The Skills Highway programme explains the hows and whys, and provides a number of valuable resources. The Tertiary Education Commission also provides a Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund to help employers put training in place. If your business has 20 or more employees you can apply for the next round of funding. Email cmurdoch@business.org.nz or click here to find out more.

Commercial fishing partnership Precision Seafood Harvesting
took out the title of New Zealand’s most innovative organisation at the New Zealand Innovators Awards 2014, with a new way of harvesting fish that allows small fish to escape and for any non-target fish to be returned to the sea alive and unharmed. Organisers say entries were up 60% from last year and competition for the various awards was tough. More...

Research into innovation shows it to be a process that can be subjected to many of the same disciplines we normally associate with other business functions such as accounting, manufacturing and sales. 
Dr. Peter Lee is currently adjunct professor, lecturer to MBA students about commercialisation at The University of Auckland and coach to New Zealand companies.  He has demonstrated through practice that tools for innovation can be adapted to our local circumstances and increase our international competitiveness.  More...

Hot on the heels of the new China Airlines summer service to Taiwan comes the announcement that Singapore Airlines will also be adding new flights out of Christchurch. 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 – including a new  round of the highly popular China Business training in Wellington.

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