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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The results are in for our annual exporters survey. Seeing as about 50% of respondents were manufacturers, they reveal some useful information - what's working well, the issues, challenges, expectations and markets. See below for the full results.

The PMI shows the manufacturing sector is in increased expansion, and there is plenty going on to help manufacturers succeed. See below for events, training, workshops and resources - including NZ's first ever manufacturing accelerator!

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

BNZ - BusinessNZ PMI
PMI – Balancing Act

New Zealand's manufacturing sector showed increased expansion in August, according to the latest BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for August was 55.0. This was 1.3 points higher than July.

A number of positive and negative factors are presently at play for manufacturers.

"Although the proportion of positive comments slipped slightly from 60.8% in July to 57.2% in August, export growth due to the decrease in the value of the New Zealand dollar remained a key comment in ensuring comments were more positive than negative. On the flip side, manufacturers also noted the adverse economic news offshore, which is causing a drop in new orders for some. Domestically, the dairy downturn continues to be felt".

"On balance, the sector remains in good heart, although many manufacturers will be keeping their eye on how international developments unfold over the next few months". More...

C Beard

The results are in! Exporters Survey 2015

Exporters - better profitability & orders but barriers remain

The annual ExportNZ survey shows exporters are feeling confident, expecting increasing profitability and rising orders in the next twelve months, but nearly half the respondents are facing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.

“Two of the key differences in this year’s survey from 2014 – is China and ASEAN moving up the ranks of countries that respondents are exporting to, and an increase in the use of on-line selling to open up new market opportunities (52.2% said yes to this question compared to only 37.9% in 2014).

“In the next 12 months the majority (70%) of respondents said they expected business profitability to improve, 22% stay the same and 6.8% to deteriorate.  Most (54.6%) expected their business to employ more people with 38.5% employing the same and only a small number reducing staff (6.8%).

“While the majority (68.8%) are able to access enough skilled staff to grow their business, it is concerning that 31% said this is a constraint. More...

C Beard

New FernMark programme for exporters

A new FernMark, embedded with augmented reality and including a global trademark monitoring programme, is now available to help exporters market their products internationally.

Any New Zealand company currently exporting goods can now apply to carry the FernMark on their products. Previous programmes were open by invite only.

To be granted a FernMark licence companies will need to meet set eligibility criteria, including an assessment of the ‘New Zealandness’ of the company and product. A licence costs between $1,500 and $5,000 annually.

The new FernMark programme sits alongside the broader New Zealand Story toolkit of resources already available for companies to help them tell their own New Zealand story when marketing their goods and services. More...

NZ’s first ever Manufacturing Accelerator opens for business

The doors are open! Lightning Lab Manufacturing kicked off in Lower Hutt this week, welcoming seven hardware startups into the three month programme. The manufacturing accelerator is the fifth Lightning Lab to run since its inception in 2013, and the first in NZ to centre around hardware, giving startups who are building or have built physical products the opportunity to rapidly accelerate their companies. The programme is run by Creative HQ with support from Callaghan Innovation, Grow Wellington and the Hutt City Council. More...

Helping companies commercialise their research and innovations

In today's competitive world innovation is becoming a strong focus, not only in New Zealand but in other parts of the world.  If we want to make an impact and compete globally, we need to be more innovative and know the right tools to turn ideas into new products, services and new ways of working.

The Master of Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (MCE) was developed by the University of Auckland Business School in response to calls from many sectors, including business, researchers, scientists and academia, to increase the commercialisation of New Zealand’s investment in science and innovation. Applications for next year's intake will close on 8 December 2015. More...

High Pressure Processing Technology Workshop

High Pressure Processing (HPP) Technology is increasingly being used to create new, exciting, minimally processed food products worldwide that are safe, innovative and affordable. The uniqueness, novelty and purpose of HPP is the preservation, retention and improvement of food quality in terms of taste, flavour, texture and colour. Consumers nowadays increasingly expect the food to be safe, of a high quality, minimally processed, 'natural', additive-free and high in nutritional value. The unique effects of HPP appear to be able to meet these requirements.

Come and engage with world leading experts, top equipment manufacturers, users and regulators at this unique event at The FoodBowl – 28 Verissimo Drive, Auckland Airport on 27th – 28th October. More...

Government guarantee key tool for securing hard-to-close sales

This is a great case study about Scott Technology, published by the NZ Export Credit Office...

In every level of business, from your local fish 'n' chip shop to behemoths such as India's Tata Group, one simple phenomenon breeds success: sales.

In its relentless pursuit of sales, respected New Zealand company Scott Technology is using government-secured payment terms to help seal the deal. Scott Technology chief executive Chris Hopkins says New Zealand Export Credit Office's (NZECO) export credit product has become a valued tool in his sales arsenal.

"It helps us engage our customers, just to open the discussion. Or we can use the fact that there are these finance terms available as an excuse to make a second approach.

"We ask: ‘Would extended finance terms make a difference?' A Government guarantee is a very useful sales tool," Hopkins says. "It helps us win jobs."

Dunedin-based Scott Technology began as a small New Zealand engineering firm some 102 years ago. It now boasts 360 staff worldwide and specialises in meat processing and mining equipment and industrial machinery. More...

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