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By Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister and MP for Botany
National is focused on getting New Zealand out onto the world stage and securing more trade deals, because when New Zealand sells more to the world, Kiwi families are better off.
It has been two years since the NZ–EU Free Trade Agreement came into force, and it is alread delivering strong results. Exports to the EU are up more than $3 billion in just two years.
We have also just signed a once–in–a–generation Free Trade Agreement with India. That opens the door for Kiwi businesses, farmers, and growers to access a market of 1.4 billion people in one of the world’s fastest–growing economies. Commentators said it couldn’t be done, but we’ve kept our word, and we’ve delivered.
When we make it easier for New Zealand businesses to compete internationally, they’re able to sell more of their products offshore. That means more money flowing back into New Zealand, which helps businesses invest, create jobs, lift wages, and put more money in people’s back pockets.
More trade and exports mean businesses are selling more, hiring more people, and paying higher wages. It means more work on farms and orchards, more shifts in factories, more freight through our ports, and more local businesses with the confidence to grow.
We’re seeing that growth in the areas New Zealand does best: kiwifruit exports are up nearly a third to $1.2 billion, meat exports up 38 per cent to $1.95 billion, and dairy exports up 58 percent.
Since coming into government, exports have grown by more than $17 billion. We’ve also
concluded, signed, and brought into force the New Zealand–UAE Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement, and completed negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Growing trade is the key to growing New Zealand’s economy. It’s part of National’s plan to fix the basics, create more jobs, lift wages, and put more money in Kiwis’ pockets.
