KEY POINTS:
The largest event for business in New Zealand -- the Small Business Expo -- is expanding to Wellington and Christchurch this year.
Last year, over 7000 business owners visited the Auckland event attracted by over 200 exhibitors presenting their products and services.
Organiser Sarah Trotman predicted the 2007 event would be more popular.
She noted 96 per cent of all New Zealand's businesses employ 19 people or fewer, which classifies them as small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, SMEs employ 30 per cent of all employees and account for nearly 40 per cent of New Zealand's value-added output.
This year's focus, to tie in with this being Export Year 2007, is on helping SMEs into exporting. Specialist export companies, government agencies and consultants have been allocated slots to help small business owners.
Ms Trotman said the event gave time-pressed business owners a one-stop-shop to assess best options to help them grow their business.
The National Bank offers free advice at the show and last year over half of attendees used that service. Government agencies such as the Ministry of Economic Development will have stalls where SME owners can find out what help is available to them.
The event opens at Auckland's Showgrounds on May 30 and moves to the Wellington's waterfront events centre on July 18 and to the Christchurch Convention Centre on August 29.
- NZPA
