World TPO Awards 2008

Best TPO from a Developed Country

New Zealand’s trade promotion organization, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) won the Award for the “Best of the Best” TPO and the Best TPO from a Developed Country.

Overcoming its geographic location and connecting with global markets for goods and services as well as ideas, technology and people, is critical to the New Zealand’s economic performance. The country is comprised of small businesses – 4% employ more than 20 staff and as few as 625 businesses are responsible for 91% of merchandise exports.

Becoming a global, innovative economy is one of the government’s key economic policy goals. To this end, it established New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) in 2003. NTZE’s model takes an integrated approach to economic development that includes a focus on investment, trade, export and domestic capability to overcome challenges such as lack of scale and distance.

Realizing opportunities

NTZE connects the in-market knowledge of its offshore staff and their networks with on-the-ground capability building at home. To identify businesses and projects, NTZE has developed an intervention framework and a net economic benefit calculator, enabling it to work with the right firms at the right stage in their lifecycle, with the right mix of support.

NTZE has developed a range of products and programmes to address the challenges faced by its clients. The Beachheads programme helps companies expand their presence in international markets and accelerate their market share. Better by Design is helping boost economic growth through better use of design. Path to Market helps companies assess and realize their export potential. Export Year 2007, a public-private initiative, boosted the country’s long-term export potential through awareness raising activities and helping businesses realize opportunities.