Recommendations
73. We recommend that the Committee:
1 Note that, over the next 12-18 months, NZ Trade and Enterprise is focusing on bringing together operational systems, developing a single client interface and client management approach and ensuring continued high quality delivery;
2 Note that officials and NZ Trade and Enterprise have identified areas where there are opportunities for some changes to existing services in order to reduce overlaps, improve flexibility and reduce compliance costs, ensure consistency, and re-orient initiatives towards the key objective of internationalisation;
3 Note that NZ Trade and Enterprise is developing a longer-term strategy to guide the organisation in meeting the overall objective of supporting internationally competitive New Zealand business and is considering a sectoral approach to guide NZ Trade and Enterprise's operations;
4 DirectNZ Trade and Enterprise, in consultation with the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Treasury, to report back to the Ministers of Finance, Industry and Regional Development, Trade Negotiations and Associate Foreign Affairs and Trade by 30 June 2003 on progress with the long-term strategic direction for NZ Trade and Enterprise;
5 Note that the service design principles agreed by Cabinet [CAB Min (02) 30/4 refers] have been adopted in developing NZ Trade and Enterprise's integrated service range;
6 Agree that the following additional principles be adopted in considering the level of funding support for different NZ Trade and Enterprise services:
6.1 Funding support should be as transparent to firms and markets as possible
6.2 There should be a consistent approach to funding support for similar services (whether provided in-house, through grants, or contracted delivery);
7 Direct officials from the Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in consultation with NZ Trade and Enterprise and the Treasury, to report back to the Ministers of Finance, Industry and Regional Development and Trade Negotiations on the evaluation of the following initiatives:
- Regional Partnership Programme - by July 2003
- Investment New Zealand - evaluation of the implementation of Investment New Zealand support and the Strategic Investment Fund by November 2003 and a full evaluation of the effectiveness of Investment New Zealand by December 2006
- Industrial Supplies Office - by June 2004
- Incubator Support Programme - by October 2004
- Polytechnic Regional Development Fund - by December 2004
- Growth Services and Fund - by June 2005
- Enterprise Development Grants scheme - by June 2005
- Cluster Development Programme, incorporating Export Networks - by November 2005
- Promoting an Enterprise and Business Culture initiative, Brand New Zealand, Major Events Support - by December 2005
- BIZInfo and BIZ Training - by December 2005
- Sector Facilitation, Beachheads, International Sector Specialists - by June 2006;
8 Invite the Ministers for Industry and Regional Development and Trade Negotiations to report to Cabinet Economic Development Committee on the outcomes of the evaluations at the time of the report backs specified in recommendation (7);
9 Note that the Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will work with NZ Trade and Enterprise to undertake an annual stocktake to summarise available information on service implementation, delivery and performance to improve delivery or to direct further research or policy development work;
10 Note that a range of private and non-government organisations have been consulted on the merger and proposed service range enhancements and support the approach;
11 Note that, with the exception of the 2003 Budget Bids and integration costs, all proposed changes to the service range in 2003/2004 will be fiscally neutral;
12 Note that the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, in consultation with relevant departments and agencies, will report to POL by 30 September 2003 on progress in enhancing wider co-ordination and alignment across broader business assistance functions [CAB Min (02) 24/2 refers].
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