Author Archive for virginiamcmillan
Exploring the inner space of green technologies
Kiwi companies are in a global race to supply technologies that will help grow the country’s export earnings as well as keep the planet green.
From Kazakhstan to Sichuan, Kiwi companies are cleaning up the planet using homegrown technologies… Read more>>
The thing about sustainable packaging
Sustainable business adviser Simon Harvey says exporters keen to reduce the environmental impact of packaging are best to take a “whole of system” approach, rather than to “start with what they’ve got and try to make it ‘less bad’”… Read more>>
Managing the credit and risk monsters in 2010
Bankers have these words of wisdom for exporters going into 2010: Understand your risks and be in a position to mitigate them.
BY: Virginia McMillan
Whether the 2008/09 recession has been successfully damped down or is set to reignite… Read more>>
BATTLING COPYCATS IN FOREIGN TURF
Exporters need to be aware of the time, finances and will power needed to fight intellectual property thieves who have the potential to bankrupt a business.
BY: VIRGINIA MCMILLAN
Rob Miller knows what it’s like to face an intellectual property… Read more>>
When it is not OK to use your Kiwi name offshore
Given the drab economic environment, exporters may need to reassess costs and timelines for new market entry and decide where their IP fits in.
BY: VIRGINIA MCMILLAN
Recessions tend to spark an upturn in rip-offs of commercial ideas, say lawyers… Read more>>
Little cheer for export sector from National
The National government’s Budget has cut into spending for export development with a main casualty being the popular Market Development Assistance Fund.
BY: VIRGINIA MCMILLAN
A focus on value for public money – called by some the “razor-gang” approach –… Read more>>
The morphing of NZTE’s funding mechanism
The old market development grant scheme is being tossed out. In place is a new scheme which aims to be more targeted in its approach to helping companies reach new markets.
BY: VIRGINIA MCMILLAN
Exporters’ love-hate relationship with the market… Read more>>
Banks slow to budge
Banks have been slow in passing on lower rates to businesses despite the breathtakingly low official cash rates currently seen in New Zealand.
BY: VIRGINIA MCMILLAN
“Our rates haven’t come down” is the message from more than half the Exporter… Read more>>
In Search of Better Loan Rates
The global credit crunch has forced banks to toughen their lending criteria. Cost of business loans have yet to fall as much as housing loans and businesses have to work extra hard to sell the viability of their business as… Read more>>
Fixing a not-so-great trading nation
New Zealand’s new trade minister Tim Groser debunks the myth about New Zealand being a small but great trading nation. He says our export as a percentage of GDP is below our peers and we desperately need to grow the… Read more>>
Poles apart – your house, your business loan
Putting up your house up as a security for money to fund your business? Don’t be surprised banks are not all that eager to offer you cheaper loan rates as they consider business risks under a completely different light.
BY… Read more>>
NZ Export Credit Office reshapes product for exporters
The NZ Export Credit Office’s timely move of redressing its trade guarantee scheme will give exporters a much needed shot in the arm at a time when the cost of commercial trade credit insurance and bank trade guarantees are becoming costly and less forthcoming.
