The steady implementation of the Business Growth Agenda is enabling business confidence, says BusinessNZ.

The Government today laid out its future 10 priorities from the many initiatives currently under way under the BGA.

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly said it was helpful to see a focus on the issues that can most advance growth – free trade agreements for more exporting, improving the Resource Management Act, filling skills gaps, supporting R&D, rolling out broadband, improving employment relations law, simplifying tax, increasing petroleum and minerals exploration, and improving roading.

“Business welcomes the reporting back on milestones achieved – including lower tax and interest rates, more R&D funding, easier financial reporting for small business, job trial periods, and others – that have resulted from the Government taking seriously what business needs to support successful communities.

“There are areas where business would seek further change and would challenge the Government’s decisions, for example, many would prefer R&D funding to be more strictly targeted on young, high tech ventures.

“Many businesses would also like to see a more rapid, less incremental rate of change.  The challenge is to rapidly increase productivity for higher, more permanent levels of economic growth.

“There is however significant agreement among business on the worth of the Business Growth Agenda.  BusinessNZ’s election survey last week showed that 63% of businesses think the current Government has a coordinated plan of action focused on raising New Zealand’s economic performance.”

Contact Phil O’Reilly 04 4966552 or Kathryn Asare 021 555 744

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