Pushing for a structure

Business leaders have their say on Apec (Part two).

Gil Simpson

Chief executive Aoraki Corporation

Chief executive and founder of Aoraki Corporation Gil Simpson has free trade at the top of his mind going into the Apec ceo summit this weekend.

"New Zealand used to have a high standard of living relative to the world as it was in the 1950s. We talked about access to the British market - a form of free trade agreement with the United Kingdom. In that sense free trade was very good to New Zealand. It would be fantastic to have it back again."

Mr Simpson, whose company's software, Jade, is being used to run the conference registration system, says it is easy to see the decline in living standards since the country lost access to free trade. He describes the recent knock back on access to the United States market for New Zealand lamb as "noise on the wire" and not something that stops the main conversation from continuing.

"All change starts from an ideal."

Mr Simpson points out that just as the United States has vested interests, so does New Zealand - in the form of producer boards.

"We want free trade access, but we won't give our producers the right to trade with whoever they please."

He says the agricultural economy is, and will remain, the vital ingredient to New Zealand's's economic well being, but that participation in the knowledge economy is a way of not putting all our eggs in one basket.

On that front he is pushing the need for a structure among Apec nations to make electronic commerce work - specifically in cross-border protection of intellectual property and combatting internet-based fraud.

He says the main reason Aoraki got involved with Apec sponsorship was to target the NZ Government, which he says doesn't have a good track record in supporting locally made software.

Eric Barratt

Managing director Sanford Ltd

Sanford's Eric Barratt concedes he is new to the world of international diplomacy, and risks ruffling a few feathers at this weeks summit of chief executives in Apec member countries.

"I'll probably get caned for being a little too direct, but that is what business is about."

He sees the CEO Summit as an opportunity to let business people throughout the region know the benefits of free trade - right down to what it means in some of the less developed countries.

"I think we need to take the opportunity to push home the message that we have to move ahead in the region with economic reform or everybody suffers."

He expects New Zealand chief executives to impress on visiting business people and politicians the need to work together to achieve the economic and social benefits.

"There are things like the move by businesses here to take responsibility for social and environmental issues as well as shareholder issues that I think need to be looked at regionally," he says.

A move to improve governance and transparency throughout regional companies is another "unpopular" barrow he expects New Zealand delegates to push.

Also at the front of his mind will be Apec's past tardiness in sticking to the implementation of a timetable for free trading of seafood in the region.

"I'll take whatever opportunity I can to talk about specific barriers for our business, but really I see this as a great opportunity to talk about the benefits to the region generally in opening the doors further for each other."