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Thursday, 28 April 2011

International Economic Law and Policy Blog: Donald Trump as U.S. Trade Rep

International Economic Law and Policy Blog: Donald Trump as U.S. Trade Rep

If you are interested on the impact that Donald Trump might have on international trade read this post!

Export News 1996!

Recently the New Zealand School of Export was donated a number of copies of Export News styled as New Zealand's Leading Export Newspaper.  We are delighted to have them in our collection even although it is a broken run of issues.   The earliest number is for 10 June 1996 and makes for fascinating reading - it includes a focus on exporting to Germany and a report on a Carrot Group who had been to Japan on a 'learning mission'. 15 years on it is interesting to see themes which continue today - the push into Asia, wine exports and primary products.

At least six Christchurch companies were listed in articles throughout this issue and I thought it would be interesting to see if they still have a presence in the city and had survived the February earthquake.  All still have a web presence although one has been taken over but the brand is retained.  Another now has Japanese owners but is still firmly based in Christchurch.   Three had news on their website as to how they had survived the quake and were still open for business.

It says something for the resilience and commitment of companies such as these that they have survived so long and like a number of other companies form a solid block of exporting firms in Christchurch and the Canterbury region.

Export News which was put out by Tradenz - the New Zealand Trade Development Board, is a treasure trove of information on international trade in New Zealand and future researchers will not be able to ignore it.

Tuesday, 19 April 2011

International education

The International Economic Law and Policy Blog recently (6 April, 2011) published this post from Simon Lester:

Trade in Everything: Public School Students

From the AP:
Northern Maine is 7,000 miles and a world away from China, but that's not stopping a school superintendent from recruiting Chinese students to attend public high school in this remote mill town.
Faced with declining enrollments and shrinking revenues, public school districts from Maine to California are seeking out students from overseas, particularly China, to attend their high schools. At least two public schools in Maine have 10 tuition-paying Chinese students in classes this year, and the superintendent in Millinocket is the latest to set his sights on China.
I was rather surprised to read this as New Zealand schools have had international students from many different countries for a number of years.   Maybe the enrolment of such students is not so blatantly targeted at dealing with money difficulties or balancing the books, but it certainly helps our high schools.   In addition there is no doubt that culturally there are pluses for all involved.

International education contributes more than $2 billion to our economy and supports about 32,000 jobs in schools, tertiary institutions and PTEs.   International education is sometimes called Export education in New Zealand.

A new Crown Agency is proposed which will improve the way the Government supports international education, and functions currently shared between the Ministry of Education, Education New Zealand and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise will be brought together.

Friday, 15 April 2011

Export Drive New Zealand

Periodically articles are published in the media which exhort companies in New Zealand to grow their exports- to grow our trade with the rest of the world.   Recently the Executive Director at Export New Zealand, Catherine Beard, wrote a comment piece headed Growth in trade essential if incomes are to increase.   This was published in the Dominion Post on April 4, 2011, p.C2.

Her thrust was that recently negotiated free trade agreements have been successful and that both the major political parties have trade policy agendas which are supported by Export New Zealand.  That's fine but articles such as this avoid the question of how companies get the training necessary to be able to export successfully in the global marketplace.   Some people learn to ride a bike by themselves and fall off many times in the process - others get someone to help.   Companies can avoid mistakes and get support by completing a course such as the Diploma of International Trade offered by the New Zealand School of Export.   I wouldn't have expected Ms Beard to support one course over another but encouragement of exporters to get practical assistance would help promote 'the growth in trade' which we all agree is so important.   International trade education is vital to the continuing success and health of the sector.

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Textiles - Subject Map


Transportation of flax fibre, (Wellington wharves?) ca 1920s 1 b&w original negative(s).; Glass negative.; Single negative.  Scene on a wharf, probably in Wellington, showing railway wagons of flax being transferred to a ship. Photograph taken by S C Smith.  Photo from Timeframes - National Library of New Zealand

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor - textile industry?  Have you wondered how to find information on textile exporting companies and the fibre and textile industry in New Zealand?  
Check out our new Subject Map which takes you to resources held in our ELIS Collection. See: http://www.export.ac.nz/freedownloads.html

 

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Exporter, designer, writer


Shells of Kina, sea urchins or sea eggs.  Photo Graeme Siddle.

I have just discovered the website of a Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, exporter called David Trubridge.  David Trubridge Ltd is a furniture and lighting design company and three quarters of the output from its factory in Whakatu is exported.   Australia is the biggest single market for their products, but he also sells through distributors or shops in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East and Singapore.
For David context is everything and his website with its Design pages, (as opposed to product pages)  are set in a rich context:  http://www.davidtrubridge.com

Under the About button you will find a section on his Core Values set out under the following headings: Nourishment, Fashion, Design process and Why we Need Art.  Under each is a quotation from interviews he has given to design magazines.   It is a pity that the references for the articles are not given because he does seem to be very careful in his writing to note relevant sources.

The Writing button  gives access to five essays and to his blog.  These provide that vital context for what he and his team produce.  Here is a quote from his essay The Cultural Designer:

All of this means that a new type of design must be created. I call this Cultural Design -- design as we have never known it, at least for a very long time. The cultural designer will primarily design abstract lifestyles and rituals that allow us to lead a sustainable life. For the few objects that are needed, they will have much less to do with the physical workings of objects, and more to do with their effect -- how they nourish us.


Do take a look and read some of his material – it is very challenging.   By looking at this New Zealand exporter’s website, I’m sure you will also discover the link with the photo.

Monday, 4 April 2011

Incoterms Training - Online!

Have you been looking for training for the new Incoterms 2010?   Did you know that the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce is offering online courses.  Look at:

http://www.iccwbo.org/Events/Events_content/ICC-Incoterms-2010-Masterclasses-training-for-trade-professionals/

These courses are suitable for export/import managers, trade finance officers, supply chain, and even for those involved in the legal aspects of international trade.