Exchange scheme gives small business step to world stage

By SIMON COLLINS

Small businesses will be able to get grants of up to $75,000 to send someone overseas or bring an expert to New Zealand, under a new $2.25 million Government scheme.

The "World Class New Zealanders" exchange scheme replaces plans to spend the money on building a network of expatriate New Zealanders.

Instead, Industry New Zealand will use networks built up by business groups such as the Kiwi Expat Association to identify potential overseas exchange partners.

But most partners are likely to be identified by the small businesses themselves.

The new scheme, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton at the Innovate conference in Christchurch yesterday, was welcomed by small businesses at the conference.

"Everyone here has the same problem," said Jason Carswell of Christchurch company Wired Internet Solutions.

"We have a good product which we want to take to the international market."

Wired Internet Solutions has sold its website content management program to four customers in Australia and two in Britain, as well as to about 50 in New Zealand.

"Funding is a big issue. It's an age-old problem. Having the financial support and partnerships to take us to those international markets is what we need."

Hamish Martin of Blenheim's Potato Plate Company said that if he could get a grant under the scheme, he would use it to look into a possible joint venture in China.

But the scheme is not meant to cover direct export missions, which can already get help from Trade New Zealand.

It is targeted specifically at exchanges of up to six months that will help businesses to:

Acquire international best practices.

Improve management capability.

Develop international networks.

Improve export readiness and ability.

Improve innovation.

For example, the Government says, the scheme could be used by a food company to bring a specialist from an overseas distributor to New Zealand to check the company's quality standards.

Alternatively, the company could send one of its own staff to an overseas business, organisation or event.

The scheme is available only for businesses with up to 100 fulltime-equivalent staff or revenue of less than $50 million a year. The business must pay half the accommodation costs and the person's salary, but the scheme will pay for airfares, the other half of the accommodation and living costs.

The scheme will also give similar help to missions involving up to three businesses which are designed to evaluate overseas products or technology.

Grants are available from Industry New Zealand.