Focus needs funds

Press, 5 August 1985, Page 13

Focus needs funds

PA Wellington More funds and an extra year are needed for the Government and private sector joint-venture export marketing organisation, Focus New Zealand, to be effective, according to the chairman, Mr Brian Service. Focus had about $130,000 marked for exporter group promotions during the next year, but estimated that as much as $370,000 could be needed. It was hoped the

Government could provide half the $240,000 shortfall, with the other half coming from the private sector. “If additional funds are not available, the number of export action plans that can be implemented will have to be reduced and/or the extent of Focus assistance will have to be curtailed,” he said. This would be a blow to the two-year effort by Focus to get exporters to-

gether to formulate joint marketing approaches. Progress during the last year was hampered by Focus’s having a staff of only two, and problems getting exporters to market in a new way, he said. There were 11 marketing plans on the agenda for 1985, and to be effective each needed one full-time supervisor. Focus also needed to provide some finance to get the plans

launched. The Focus project was set up for a three-year term, and is scheduled to run out at the end of this financial year. Mr Service said an extra year should be approved to give two years for implementation of export actions plans. “This should be an adequate time on which to pass judgment on the success or otherwise of Focus,” he said.