New organisation to promote trade

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 3

New organisation to promote trade

Political reporter The Government confirmed yesterday that it will merge the Trade Commission and the Market Development Board. Announcing that legislation will put the merger into effect later this year, the Minister of Overseas Trade, Mr Moore, said it would blend the successes of both organisations. The Trade Commission, Tradecom, is made up of New Zealand’s trade commissioners in 41 posts overseas, as well as staff at home. It is part of the

Department of Trade and Industry, but with the user-pays principle applied, it will now charge exporters for assistance in entering new markets. The Market Development Board was established in 1986 to further enhance our export potential through better research and marketing.

Mr Moore said the new single organisation for trade promotion would be better able to serve the needs of New Zealand’s exporters. “The new organisation

will combine the market development thrust and strategic thing of the M.D.B. with the ‘on the ground’ experience and expertise of New Zealand’s trade commissioners,” he said. All staff had been notified and no redundancies would result.

it was intended that the chairman of the new organisation be Mr Peter Shirtcliffe, who is chairman of the M.D.B. The role of chief executive would be advertised, said Mr Moore.