Groser off on WTO job pitch

Trade minister Tim Groser is on an international charm offensive in pursuit of director-generalship of the World Trade Organisation.

In Davos, Switzerland, for next week's world economic forum, Mr Groser will also attend an informal meeting of trade ministers to discuss the outlook for the multilateral trading system and preparations for the 9th WTO ministerial conference at the end of this year.

“The forum gives New Zealand a valuable opportunity to engage with the world’s top decision-makers on how to get the global economy back on a path of stable growth and higher employment, as well as a chance to discuss the implications for New Zealand,” he says.

Mr Groser will meet counterparts to discuss progress on New Zealand’s trade agenda as well as his candidature for WTO director-general.

Before heading to Davos, he will speak at the OECD Policy Dialogue on Aid for Trade in Paris and attend the launch of the OECD-WTO Trade in Value-Added Database later this week.

“It is critical leaders continue to explore ways to keep markets open and to achieve further trade liberalisation.

"Stimulating trade through liberalisation and regional integration provides an important engine not only for global economic recovery but also for economic growth, poverty reduction, and development,” Mr Groser says in a statement.

This year’s forum will be broken into four categories: global, regional, industry and business and will look into issues such as:

• How to thrive when global competitiveness is increasingly driven by talent and innovation.
• How to ensure stable, sustainable and affordable supplies of critical natural resources.
• How to navigate a changing regulatory environment while pursuing new growth opportunities.
• How to create new value in the face of generational and structural shifts that are reshaping business models.
• How to adapt to the future evolution of social technology in a business context.
• How to leverage rapid and far-reaching advances in science, technology and medicine.

bcunningham@nbr.co.nz