ProjectLink proves a success with exporters

New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) says its international project work database has generated $65 million in business for local companies over the past year.

NZTE, the Government agency formed from the merger of Trade New Zealand and Industry New Zealand, says more than $210 million worth of business has been generated since its ProjectLink initiative was set up in the early 1990s.

The internet-based service gives signed-up companies leads about upcoming engineering, building, construction and marine industries projects in Australia and the Pacific.

John Nicholson, NZTE's senior trade commissioner for Australia/Pacific, said the service had been particularly successful over the past year following a revamp of the website and a New Zealand-wide roadshow to promote its benefits to local businesses.

Information for the site, including business opportunities and tenders, is gathered by NZTE staff in Australia and the Pacific.

Catherine Dunkerley, one of two Sydney-based New Zealand trade commissioners, said subscriber numbers had increased from 60 to more than 100 after the roadshow.

"Exporters benefiting from ProjectLink range from companies using the service to evaluate new markets to those using it to complement their own marketing intelligence gathering and increasing productivity within their sales forces," she said.

NZTE is now looking at expanding the service to cover other industries.

An early subscriber, New Plymouth-based Fitzroy Engineering, said it used the service to help it break into the Australian market.

Last year the company exported $13 million worth of products.

ProjectLink

NZ Trade & Enterprise