NZ info-tech impresses at trade show, claims Goff

New Zealand's information technology exhibit at a world trade show has impressed a senior German politician and he wants to visit here, Trade Minister Phil Goff says.

Mr Goff hosted State Prime Minister of Lower Saxony Christian Wulff around the New Zealand exhibition at the world's largest trade show, CeBIT, in Hanover, Germany.

"The Prime Minister was impressed both with the creativity and innovation in New Zealand's ICT sector and the performance of New Zealand's economy," Mr Goff said.

New Zealand's unemployment rate 3.6 per cent was a third of Germany's rate and Mr Wulff was keen to visit New Zealand.

Mr Goff said New Zealand was primarily known for its agriculture in Germany but the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise sponsored exhibit allowed 13 New Zealand businesses to demonstrate abilities in ICT.

Amongst them was Prolificx, a New Zealand company dealing in integrated in-vehicle computer management systems, Provenco, a global supplier of smart technology to the fuel industry -- both of which have secured major contracts.

ICT in New Zealand makes $5.6 billion or 5.1 per cent of GDP. It employs over 44,000 employees.

Exhibiting at CeBIT are: Human Interface Technology (HITlab), Mako Networks, Maximum Availability, Next Window, Prolificx, Provenco, SimWorks, Unlimited Realities, Vcomms, Immigration NZ, Investment New Zealand, Real Recruitment, and Phitek.

- NZPA