NZ firms rush for EU chances

By ELLEN READ



As the EU celebrates the addition of another 10 countries, New Zealand businesses are inundating the British consulate-general in Auckland with requests for help to set up in Britain.

The companies, ranging from IT to creative design, hope an office will give them a base from which to attack the growing EU market.

They are also attracted by advantages offered by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) - the British Government organisation that supports UK companies trading internationally.

Its resources, including advice, data and research, are immediately available to any company operating from Britain.

Local companies that have already become part of the UKTI network in Britain include Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Jade Software, Pulse Data, Orion Software of Excellence, Synergy and Tait Electronics.

Another, Metra, which is the international division of MetService, has had an office in Wolverhampton for three years. General manager (international) Paul Linton said the business was working with UKTI in Auckland to assess its options and consider expansion.

The new, bigger EU meant new opportunities, he said.

The company's business had "grown and grown" with the organisation's help and after the England sales office opened, culminating in March's announcement of a multimillion-dollar deal to supply TV weather graphics to the BBC.

Linton said Britain was a good base to access Europe.

On Saturday, the 25-member European Union became the largest developed market in the world.

Consul-General Stephen Turner said Britain was an ideal base for New Zealand firms because the nations already had strong business and trading links.

He said 90 per cent of New Zealand's current European investment was in Britain.

EU MEMBERS

* Existing members: Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Finland, Sweden.

* New members: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia.