What a Waste- ACT Party
An Amazing opportunity- National Party
David Seymour –
A centre-right government should not boast about throwing $53 million at a Dubai business expo.
National are looking like Labour lite, throwing money around like they have forgotten that it belongs to the taxpayer.
What is the point in electing a National government when it spends your money like Labour would, and then boasts about it?
This is wasteful and unfair corporate welfare that will disproportionately benefit politically-connected businesses.
In the internet age, New Zealand businesses are perfectly capable of promoting themselves. The average business would be far better off if this funding was simply used to cut the company tax rate.
This is two flag referendums’ worth of spending, and it is an insult to everyday taxpayers.
For example, a single aged care worker would have to work for almost 9000 years to pay enough tax to fund this expo, and that is only after they get their pay increased to $19 an hour.
ACT is the only Party that will ensure taxpayer money is spent wisely, and the wisest spender of all is the taxpayer who earned it.
David Seymour is elected Member of Parliament from Epsom (Auckland) and ACT Party Leader. His comments above related to the following news item that appeared in our Web Edition dated April 23, 2017.
Simon Bridges Todd McClay
Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Trade Minister 
announced on April 23, 2017 that New Zealand will participate in World Expo 2020, to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The announcement was made during Mr Bridges’ visit to Dubai.
The following is their statement:
Through Budget 2017, the government is committing $53.3 million to construct a New Zealand Pavilion that will allow Kiwi businesses to highlight their innovative products and services and open doors to new export markets.
Showcasing New Zealand
Showcasing New Zealand to the world is a crucial part of boosting economic growth. Expo 2020 will provide a springboard to promote us as an innovative, solution-focused economy to the 25 million visitors expected to attend from across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.
It will also allow us to build on our strong economic and transport links to the UAE which acts as a global air and sea logistics hub, providing access for New Zealand exporters to a much wider region. We’re already well connected with five direct daily Emirates flights, contributing $700 million to the economy.
It makes clear economic sense for New Zealand to participate in this global event.
Six-month Affair
The Expo will take place from October 2020 to April 2021 with Mr McClay saying it will attract high-value visitors from all corners of the world.
Expo 2020 is a vital opportunity to increase New Zealand’s profile amongst new trading partners as well as grow our trade with existing partners.
We have a strong trade and economic relationship with the UAE and $3.8 billion of two-way trade with the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The Gulf States also importantly provide an entry point into the wider region for many New Zealand companies and a base from which to better access the wider Middle East and beyond.
New Zealand is close to completing a free trade agreement with the GCC, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The UAE alone is New Zealand’s twelfth largest trading partner, with annual two-way trade exceeding $1.9 billion in 2016.
About Expo 2020
Expo 2020 has the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. The Expo site will be around 2sq/km in size and will contain three thematic areas; opportunity, sustainability and mobility.
These three pavilions will showcase ideas and innovations, and countries that attend will have their specific pavilions spread around the thematic areas. New Zealand has been invited to participate in the sustainability precinct.
The organisers expect around 180 nations to participate. New Zealand is among the first 20 to formally confirm attendance.
More information on the Expo see http;//expo2020dubai.ae
New Zealand Pavilion
The government is about to launch an RFP process within the creative sector of New Zealand to select the best team and ideas for the design and content.
