Trade appointment in Taipei

Michelle Slade has been appointed director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office (NZCIO) in Taipei.

Her appointment was announced yesterday by Charles Finny, chief executive of the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce.

NZCIO is a subsidiary of the Wellington Chamber and promotes New Zealand's economic and cultural interests in Taiwan.

"Taiwan is important to New Zealand as our eighth largest export market and a significant source of investment, students and migrants," Finny said. Annual two-way trade stands around $1.5 billion.

Slade is a former trade negotiator and has previously worked in the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing and the New Zealand permanent mission in Geneva.