September 05, 2014
Maori trade desk part of long term strategy
Maori Affairs Minster Pita Sharples says he has been trying for four years to get a Maori desk at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
The desk is now part of the Maori Party's economic policy and will be in its wish list is it is able to negotiate a support agreement with the next Government.
Dr Sharples, who has led Maori trade missions to China, says Maori producers are keen to export, but they need some help from New Zealand Inc.
"The whole idea is that we could get that desk and Maori Inc established it could sit right alongside or inside even New Zealand Inc and would be part of that whole network of sales, advertising, recruiting, conjoining initiatives and so on including working with different banks like the China Development Bank and other banks around Asia and the world," he says
Dr Sharples says there is already significant support from Maori enterprise coming from He Kai Kei Aku Ringa, the Maori Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan developed by
Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Emplyment.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH PITA SHARPLES CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjE4MzE=
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