As we enter into Spring, exporters have good reason to be in a buoyant mood.

The outlook seems positive for progress with various free trade agreements, from the GCC to the EU - see more in my Trade Update below.

Also, trade figures show that for the year to June 2016, NZ’s total exports of goods and services were up $3.3 billion (4.9%) from $67.6 billion in the previous year. See the full report below for details on the growth happening in different sectors.

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

In this month's Trade Update, I look at the latest news on the free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council following the Prime Minister’s meeting with the Saudi Arabian Deputy Prime Minister in New York last week.

Also: what's happening with the Government’s proposed new trade strategy, the FTA negotiation with the EU, the UK, and the TPP. More...

C Beard 

Voice your needs and gain support! ExportNZ and DHL are teaming up on a short exporter survey.

The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and all responses are strictly confidential.

Please fill it in so we can ensure government agencies and others can understand your challenges and opportunities, and we can ensure you are properly supported. Plus you'll be in to win 2x category-A Tickets to watch NZ take on the British & Irish Lions. Take the survey here...

This is a good little summary of what is happening with goods & services exports – the big picture.

NZ’s total exports of goods and services were valued at $70.9 billion for the year ended June 2016 – up $3.3 billion (4.9%) from $67.6 billion in the June 2015 year.

Stand-out performers in terms of growth are tourism and education exports & commercial services. Those first two are probably being helped by NZ being perceived as a safe place. Dairy is still the number one export earner. Read the report here...

MPI has advised that New Zealand exporters have received a notification of changes in the certification requirements for F&B exports to the UAE. These changes are a result of an MOU between MPI and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment.

In the medium to long term our New Zealand F&B exporters will benefit from the simplified documentation.

NZ companies should proactively share these new documentation requirements with their channel partners in the UAE, to be better prepared for any Customs clearance issues.

These changes apply to consignments certified on or after 1st September 2016. There is a ‘grace period’ of 6-8 weeks.

Details on the changes can be found here and on the MPI website.

Following the UK’s referendum decision to leave the European Union, MFAT is inviting submissions from New Zealand businesses that export goods or services to the United Kingdom, and/or that have investments in the United Kingdom. See the press release from Minister Todd McClay here.

While nothing will change in the short term, the Government is paying close attention to the exit process, to ensure New Zealand’s interests are maintained and advanced.

These submissions will help ensure MFAT has a full picture of the issues that matter to New Zealand companies which trade with, or invest in, the UK. It will inform the Government’s approach to issues that may arise in the course of the UK’s exit, and allow the Government to more effectively work to safeguard New Zealand’s interests as the process unfolds.

At this stage they are NOT seeking submissions from:

• importers of goods or services from the UK (unless they also export to the UK);
• exporters who focus solely on trading elsewhere in the EU, but not the UK. 

Oral and written submissions are open until 14 October 2016. All will be treated as commercial in-confidence.
See the MFAT website for further details and information on how to make a submission.

Roberto Verganti is the world's leading expert in design-driven innovation. Callaghan Innovation is bringing him to New Zealand to hold workshops and seminars for business and innovation leaders on creating breakthrough opportunities. They will be held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch from 14-18 October
Find out more and register here.

The Embassy of Mexico in New Zealand and the Mexican Trade & Investment Promotion Agency are holding a Doing Business in Mexico Seminar on 6 October at the Northern Club, 19 Princes Street, Auckland from 8:00 - 10:30am.

To find out more click here and to register email: culturalesnze@sre.gob.mx

Dr Jason Clay, Senior Vice President Food and Markets, WWF-US visited New Zealand in September with support from the AgriBusiness Group/NZ Sustainability Dashboard and WWF-NZ.

The Sustainable Business Council hosted Jason at events for BusinessNZ and ExportNZ members and guests in Wellington and Auckland. He made a powerful and sobering case for why trade is essential to achieve both food security and biodiversity. He also had some great case studies on how large multinationals can have a lot of power to do good environmentally, socially and ethically when they control so much of the supply chain.

You can see Jason's slide presentation here, or view his complete video presentation in Wellington here.

With the WTO Government Procurement Agreement now in action, there are new opportunities to tender on international  Government tenders. WTO GPA members are required to publish procurement notices; typically, this will be done electronically, free of charge and through a single point of access. New Zealand, for example, meets this requirement by publishing procurement notices on GETS. A list of the “GETS-equivalent” websites can be accessed from the e-GPA portal (Appendix III). If you want to keep tabs on opportunities, this is a good place to start.

GPA members are not required to proactively communicate procurement opportunities to other countries or their suppliers. It is also important to be aware that some procurements will not be openly advertised, for example, where national security interests are concerned.

Another useful resource is NZTE’s series of country specific market guides on government procurement, which includes links to Government procurement websites.

Intern NZ works on behalf of local and international students and graduates, helping them find unpaid tailored internship experiences in New Zealand.

Candidates are from local and international universities. Their motivations for doing an internship include: fulfilling course/credit requirements, undertaking a cross-cultural experience, and gaining invaluable skills for their future career prospects.

Over 1,000 companies, organisations and government departments in New Zealand that have benefited from having an Intern NZ candidate. They work closely with host companies and candidates to ensure that the company and intern are suitably matched. 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.

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