Govt urged to promote Singapore deal

By DANIEL RIORDAN

Business needs a greater steer from the Government on the benefits of the Singapore free trade agreement, says the Asean-New Zealand Combined Business Council.

The council surveyed 600 businesses trading with the region, and received replies from close to 100.

Most did not expect the free trade agreement to make any difference to them.

Council spokesman Anatole Bogatski said the Government and organisations such as the council needed to sell the fact that the agreement was radically different to previous deals.

"It's a new-style agreement all about the services industry and there isn't a lot of service industry trade between here and Singapore. Those areas covered, such as education, health and engineering, have still to be fully developed."

The council hoped to convey that message through its membership and was prompting the Government to take the lead.

More than two-thirds of companies trading with the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region expect their business to increase next year.

Improving economic conditions in New Zealand and in the region, as well as company-specific factors, are behind the optimism.

Almost half the survey respondents said the biggest barriers to business were cultural differences.

Mr Bogatski said traders wanted practical help from the Government.