Last Friday I was at the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce's City Leaders Lunch for a panel discussion with Mayor Stuart Crosby and 2014 Westpac Business Leader Steve Saunders.
We covered a wide range of topics, but I focused my address on the local economy - how it is doing and where it is heading in the future. Tauranga is doing better than most other regions. It is well placed to continue to grow, both in established sectors like horticulture and emerging sectors such as ICT.
The National-led Government knows that to build a more productive and competitive economy we need the regions to maximise their full potential.
That's why we're doing things like building the Tauranga Eastern Link, putting in ultra-fast and rural broadband and encouraging the building of new homes with Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas.
The local New Zealand Trade & Enterprise branch is currently engaged with over 60 local businesses to help enter or expand export markets. Through the Regional Business Partners Network 119 companies have received Capability Development Vouchers to help manage their growth.
