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Prime Minister Helen Clark believes the impact of the international food crisis is the key reason why the Japanese Government has agreed to a ground-breaking study on the benefits of a bilateral free trade agreement. Japan has been rocked by escalating prices for basic foodstuffs which has led to prime imported products like New Zealand butter being in such short …

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s dream is not about a future in which every Chinese will own his own car or be able to live in a posh apartment in downtown Beijing or Shanghai. It is a future in which every Chinese child will be able to drink two glasses of milk a day. It’s a vision that Wen confided in …

Chinese billionaire Zong Qinghou “firmly believes” the free trade agreement will increase New Zealand’s profile among Chinese entrepreneurs. Zong – boss of China’s largest beverage maker Hangzhou Wahaha based in the thriving coastal province of Zhejiang – says a lot of opportunities will open up between New Zealand and China as a result of the FTA. “Hangzhou is facing competitive …

New Zealand’s CEOs recorded some positivity towards the tax cuts provided in the year past, however just four per cent of respondents predicted the Labour Government would be reelected the following year. A lack of consultation around KiwiSaver policy to compel employers to match employee contributions irked many, while the issues of previous years (such as inflation and skills shortages) …

In the aftermath of the 2005 election, the business community expressed admiration for Prime Minister Helen Clark’s political abilities, but skepticism about Finance Minister Michael Cullen’s plans for economic transformation. A broad range of commercial issues arose in the comments of those surveyed, including the impact of the removal of Telecom’s broadband monopoly, the ramifications of considerable inflation levels, the …

The Mood of the Boardroom 2005 tackled a range of business issues pertinent to the election of that year. The emergence of John Key was noticeable, with much support for the National Party’s new finance spokesperson in comparison to then-Minister of Finance Michael Cullen. In particular, the business community expressed strong support for asset sales and lamented New Zealand’s shortage …

FRAN O’SULLIVAN talks free trade with China’s Commerce Minister  Bo Xilai, the Chinese Commerce Minister – and in the judgment of some a man destined for the premier’s suite – has been quick to use New Zealand’s recognition of China as a “market economy” in negotiations with bigger countries. Since Prime Minister Helen Clark made her April 14 announcement, Singapore …

Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai has given a strong indication that New Zealand will stay at the front of the queue despite a flurry of countries seeking free trade deals with his nation. In an exclusive interview with the Herald, Bo said there were at least 10 or even 30 countries “who were willing to talk about an FTA with …

The Mood of the Boardroom in 2004 was broadly upbeat, with optimism about the prospects for international economic growth and stability as well as political movements to create a single market with Australia. However, underlying concerns regarding domestic growth were still on the mind for many CEOs.

New Zealand is on track to become the first Western nation to strike a free-trade deal with China after the Government told Beijing it recognised its “market economy” status. Negotiations on a deal that will greatly improve access for New Zealand agricultural exporters to the vast Chinese market are expected to begin early next year. Unlike most other countries, New …