NZ venue for big retail conference

Kiwi retailers will be able to show their wares to influential Asia-Pacific retail groups when Christchurch plays host to an international retailing conference in 2003.

New Zealand yesterday won the right to host the Federation of Asian Retail Associations conference, beating China in the process and securing the chance to have 1500 delegates visit the country for four days.

Retail Merchants Association president Jonathan Milne said a wide range of retailers would visit, and an exhibition hall would be established to help Kiwi operators to make valuable contacts.

"We're pretty excited about it, because it will be the first time we have hosted the conference and we've worked hard for 18 months to get the proposal together," said Mr Milne. "But it's also a great way of showing off New Zealand as a tourist destination."

Retailers from Japan, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia will attend.