export1
Exporter Assistance Breifing.
(posted February 2010)
The first Southland Export Forum gathering for 2010 had a focus
on assistance and funding available for Southern Exporters.
Around 30 people attended, having the opportunity to hear from
companies that had some first hand experiences on funding and its’
associated hoops and rings, These were from Andee Gainsford,Quality
Foods Southland and Paul Adams, Stabicraft Marine.
Both of these companies had been part of the NZTE International
Growth Fund process that provides subsidies for promotion and
development of overseas markets for products.
The particular structure of that assistance package though, has now
reached the end of its term. |
 |
NZTE Regional Manager, Alan Richardson was on hand to explain some
significant changes, forced by funding cuts through the Ministry of
Economic Development.
| Shifts in the plans available to exporters and the
qualification criteria, means a reduction of funding overall
towards export, and remaining funds will be targeted at exporters
already sending significant values of product offshore. |
 |
“… more bang for the buck..” is what NZTE have been charged to keep
focus on by Government, but Alan was quick to stress that growing
export companies have not been entirely sidelined. Development
assistance in many various forms is still available, with the LEAN
Business programme being a good example.
| In some respect the shift in the goalposts must be a
disappointment to many exporters and at least one Southland firm at
the meeting had recently seen the sharp end of the changes by
missing out, on assistance that would have been available to them
only a year ago. |
 |
Overall it would have to be said that any company who is looking
to: or already exporting is probably also used to getting an
occasional knock back or hearing the word No, but the assistance in
its’ previous forms will certainly be missed and will require a
significant amount of reworking of business plans for those
affected.
| The NZTE website details the various types of assistance still
available, but is undergoing some updates in line with the funding
changes, so a call directly to the Otago Southland Office may help
speed the way for anyone wishing to know more. |
 |
 |
The Southland Export Trust is also a good first step. Run from
under the umbrella of the Southland Chamber Of Commerce Richard Hay
gave a history of the Trust and some details on the recently
established Southland Export Grants
scheme, |
Applications for the 2010 round opened the month following the
event. The Trust's aim is to distribute grants for projects or
initiatives which support the development and advancement of the
Southland export sector.
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