What the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade does
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the government agency responsible for negotiating with other governments on conditions of market access for New Zealand goods and services. It conducts the New Zealand Government's business with foreign governments and international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The Ministry is the Government's principal adviser on external trade policy issues.
This work relies on regular and open contact between the Ministry and New Zealand exporters. Input from exporters assists the Ministry to identify impediments to trade in specific markets and to develop strategies to address them.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade plays an important role for New Zealand business by:
- Negotiating and protecting access rules for New Zealand products and services in overseas markets.
- Negotiating international trade rules that are transparent, predictable and allow fair competition, through bodies such as the WTO.
- Working with foreign governments.
- Analysing the economy and politics of overseas markets.
- Working towards strong relationships with other countries to foster the transfer to New Zealand of skilled people, technology, investment and research capability.
The Ministry provides the following services to exporters:
- A partnership in trade negotiations whereby there is an ongoing and open dialogue between exporters and negotiators about the detail of negotiations and the needs and expectations of exporters.
- Assistance to overcome access problems for products entering international markets (e.g. tariffs, import restrictions, health or packaging requirements).
- Information about new market access opportunities resulting from trade negotiations.
- Assistance with introductions to important players in international markets from central and local government and business through a network of embassies and high commissions worldwide. New Zealand diplomats also promote opportunities to bring skills, technology, research and development and capital to New Zealand.
- Economic and political information on markets targeted by exporters.
For more information, see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
What NZTE does
NZTE is the New Zealand Government's national economic development agency.
Through its network of offices worldwide, NZTE aims to grow New Zealand’s economy by building the capability of businesses and regions and facilitating their sustained and profitable participation in overseas markets.
An Investment team within NZTE works to attract investment into New Zealand which will provide wider benefits to the New Zealand economy.
NZTE plays an important role for New Zealand business by:
- Helping to build business capability, through appraisals, training and advice, and specialised export development consultancy and market research.
- Working with incubators, clusters, groups of companies and sector and industry groups to identify and address systemic barriers to business growth, such as talent and skills shortages or inadequate infrastructure.
- Working with regional development groups to identify and build on regional competitive advantages.
- Building a culture of enterprise within New Zealand that celebrates our business successes.
- Connecting New Zealand businesses with international markets.
- Promoting New Zealand’s refreshing new perspectives on business internationally.
- Linking international investors with New Zealand business opportunities, through the Investment team.
NZTE can provide the following services to exporters:
- Advice and mentoring, training, upskilling and networking opportunities, for new exporters to established exporters (e.g. the biz programme and Exporter Education classes).
- Market intelligence such as generic country information, and a range of export check lists and how-to guides.
- International market development services, such as customised market research, identifying business opportunities and in-market assistance to help establish a local presence.
- Facilitation of trade enquiry requests.
- Access to co-funding programmes, which may cover up to 50 percent of a project’s eligible costs.
- Facilitation and introductions to other Government agencies and their services.
For more information or assistance from NZTE, please call us on 0800 555 888, speak to your account manager, or contact us by email.
