Government’s Commitment to Boosting Export Values
The success of the Government’s plan to double the value of New Zealand’s exports within a decade hinges on the support provided to growth-focused businesses. These businesses must be willing to invest in people, innovation, and customer relationships to drive sales and export revenues.
To facilitate easier access to international markets, the government has been actively engaging in trade negotiations. Recent efforts include initiating free trade talks with the UAE and laying the groundwork for discussions with India. However, simply gaining access to markets is not enough to achieve the export value target.
Maintaining a robust agri-food base is crucial, with industry executives consistently ranking biosecurity as a top priority. The threat of major diseases, such as Avian Influenza, poses a significant risk to New Zealand’s productive base. Proactive investments in disease mitigation strategies are essential to safeguarding the country’s agricultural sector.
In addition to physical product exports, the digitalization of supply chains plays a vital role in maximizing the value of New Zealand’s exports. A lack of data sharing and standardization in the agri-food sector hinders the industry’s growth potential. Government support for a common data platform could streamline operations, enhance regulatory compliance, and unlock greater value for exporters.
Innovation is another key driver of export growth, with government-funded research playing a pivotal role in sectors like dairy and kiwifruit. However, uncertainty looms over the future of government-backed research funding, raising concerns about the sector’s ability to sustain its growth momentum. Addressing this uncertainty and ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies are critical priorities for the government to support the country’s export ambitions.
Challenges in Doubling Export Value
Despite the government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s export value, several challenges loom on the horizon. The industry’s heavy reliance on physical product exports underscores the need for enhanced digital capabilities to drive value creation. Inadequate data sharing and information consistency across businesses hamper the sector’s growth potential, necessitating government intervention to establish a common data platform.
Biosecurity threats, such as Avian Influenza, pose a significant risk to the country’s agricultural sector. Proactive investments in disease mitigation strategies are essential to safeguarding New Zealand’s productive base and ensuring uninterrupted export activities. Moreover, uncertainty surrounding government-funded research funding raises concerns about the industry’s ability to sustain its growth trajectory in the long run.
Investing in Innovation for Sustainable Export Growth
Innovation lies at the heart of sustainable export growth, with government-funded research playing a pivotal role in driving sectoral advancements. However, the impending conclusion of National Science Challenges and reductions in MBIE science funding have cast doubt on the government’s commitment to supporting mission-critical research initiatives. Resolving this uncertainty and ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies are imperative to maintaining the sector’s competitiveness on the global stage.
In conclusion, the government’s role as a key supporter of export-driven businesses is essential for achieving the ambitious target of doubling New Zealand’s export value. By addressing key challenges, such as biosecurity threats, digitalization barriers, and research funding uncertainties, the government can pave the way for sustainable export growth and secure the country’s position in the global marketplace.
