Welcome to the latest newsletter from Export Hawke's Bay.  In this newsletter;

• Chairmans Words
• Upcoming events
• Russia ups excise taxes on wine
• Trade Agreement with Hong Kong concluded

Thoughts from the Chair

Well the end of the year certainly sneaked up on us. When Sukie asked me to write something for the last newsletter in 2009 I feel like I just finished the June one!

First of all, a big thanks to those of you who have supported Export Hawkes Bay in 2009.

We are a focus group but our main aim is to assist Exporters and those who wish to Export.

We will never get it exactly right, maybe too many events, not enough one-on-one help, not enough networking sessions for specific groups, but we are listening and we will do our best to make suggested changes from now on.

2009 will not be remembered as the best year for Exporters in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand or in fact anywhere in the international trading community.

Specifically here, fixing exchange rates for export contracts has been like playing Russian roulette and I know many companies, particularly in the primary sector, have seem massive reductions in export orders.

There has been some good news with Forestry experiencing rises and some commodities seeing a lift in the last quarter. The apple season tended to flatten out in final returns with organic production having probably its worst return since the premium for organics began.

It seems to me that those who have weathered the storm to date and survived will probably get through this downturn. I do remember Alan Bollard’s comments however “Beware false dawns”.

During 2009 we presented a number of Export Breakfasts and Seminars. Some of particular note were the Trade Missions Seminar with Steph Smith and the team from Display Solutions. Peter Fa’afu from MFAT on the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and the pitch of a new service from QSI Consulting in limiting personal risk in International Travel which tweaked Corporate Responsibility.

We embarked on the ambitious task of organising a Trade Group to utilise the EXPO site at Shanghai August 2010 and this will remain a major project into the New Year and Export Hawke’s Bay broke new ground with a multi- tiered Export Mentoring scheme for new or potential exporters which resulted in three companies “graduating”.

We have a round up session for the companies and mentors on Dec 9 and look forward to your attendance. (See later in the newsletter)

This function will serve as our wind down function for 2009, an announcement of the extension of the Mentoring Programme in 2010 and a discussion event for a Trade Mission to Australia for fine foods and beverages. Hope to see you there and to have some Christmas Cheer!

Otherwise wishing you and your families a most enjoyable festive season and a Happy Exporting 2010!

Looking forward 2010!

Murray Painter
Chairman
Export Hawke's Bay
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Presentation Virtual Expo

One of the ‘problems’ of regional New Zealand is that we have the tyranny of distance. Virtual Expos is a way of giving us an instant global presence, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day .Forget the cost and unsustainable effects of international travel, Virtual Expos puts you in the boardroom of your trading partners without you having to leave your office.  

Come along and find out how we and technology  can create virtual environments where real business happens, with real people connecting in real time for real results. The presenter Virtual Expos NZ are pioneering this technology and developing ways in which  regional  New Zealand can project to the world from home.

Venue:    Committee room 3
                Hawke's Bay Opera House, Hastings
Date :      Wednesday, 25th Nov, 2009
Time:       3.00pm – 4.30pm
Cost:        Complimentary

Please email  admin@hawkesbaychamber.co.nz  or call  06 876 5938 to register.

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Export Hawke’s Bay Extension of Mentoring programme and
Planned trade mission to Australia (Food & Beverage)

Export Hawke’s Bay is pleased to announce that following positive feedback from the three companies that have used the Export Mentor Service this year that we will be extending the service into 2010.

We would like to invite you to come along and hear from the Companies who utilised the service and meet informally with the Mentors and Export Hawke’s Bay over drinks and nibbles on Wednesday 9^th December.

When:       Wednesday 9^th Dec 2009

Time:        3.30 pm – 5.30pm
Where:      Havelock North Community Centre
Cost:         Complimentary

To register please RSVP to Export HB Murray ph 06 875 8000 or email info@exporthb.co.nz
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Russia ups excise taxes on wine

A new draft Russian law is set to increase excise taxes on beer and wine, both domestic and imported. The tax hike flows from President Medvedev’s anti-alcohol drive and an attempt to increase tax revenues.

It raises taxes on wine by an average of 32 percent, year- on- year for the next three years. Excise taxes on wine will increase from 2.6 rubles per liter in 2009 to 3.5 rubles in 2010, 4.8 rubles in 2011 and 6 rubles in 2012. (i.e. from NZ$0.13 to NZ$0.30 per litre).

Please Click Here to see more details.
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Trade Agreement with Hong Kong concluded – 17/ Nov/ 2009

New Zealand and Hong Kong have completed the Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) agreement.

The agreement aims to provide New Zealand businesses with greater certainty and transparency when they are exporting to Hong Kong.

It complements the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with China, which did not include Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is New Zealand's 9th largest export market and 8th largest source of foreign direct investment. Trade between New Zealand and Hong Kong is currently worth $823 million, having increased steadily over the past decade.

Officials must now complete legal verification of the agreement before it is put before Ministers for signing. This is likely to occur in the first half of 2010.
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Export Hawke's Bay looks forward to a great 2009 and appreciates your ongoing support.

Export Hawke's Bay
Export Year - Every Year

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