Beachheads Week looks to international horizons

Beachheads Week looks to international horizons

08 February 2006: The programme has been announced for the first annual Beachheads Week, with internationalisation the key topic on the agenda.

Beachheads Week is an inaugural event taking place at the Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland from February 27 to March 3. The event, which coincides with and supports NewThinking'06 has been put together by NZTE in recognition of the increasing interest in the organisation's Beachheads scheme from New Zealand businesses.

Since the Beachheads programme was established to meet the needs of ICT companies in 2002, the scheme has experience exponential growth with operations and member companies in the US, UK, the Middle East and Japan and more under investigation. The scheme is also expanding into other sectors including marine, food and beverage, biotech and specialised manufacturing.

Beachheads Week activities, including workshops, seminar sessions, panel discussions, mentoring and networking events are designed to add value for companies already participating in the scheme and raise the scheme's profile further among other New Zealand businesses which have the potential to benefit.

The highlight of the week-long programme for businesses will be an interactive panel discussion on internationalisation led by members of the programme's NZ, UK and US Advisory Boards. The Minister for Economic Development, Hon Trevor Mallard is expected to attend the topical session entitled 'Continental Shifts', which takes place at 3:45pm on Tuesday, 28 February and will discuss the most important international trends that will impact on New Zealand technology companies in the next three years.

NZTE's group General Manager for ICT and Biotechnology Peter Lennox says the week will be an important forum for business discussion on internationalisation and export issues. "The focus of the week is on offshore expansion, and the programme makes the most of the expertise of existing participants, advisory board members and external experts to address the business of problem solving, knowledge sharing and networking.

"There will be debate and discussion on key issues, plenty of NZ and international networking opportunities for businesses and I would urge businesses engaged in or considering offshore involvement to come along and see first hand what we have to offer."

The Beachheads Programme aims to provide a world leading economic development scheme that accelerates the growth of New Zealand companies by linking them into global connections and supporting them to establish and expand their offshore operations.

The programme enables high growth New Zealand businesses to grow bigger and faster in high-potential markets, through close co-operation with a local team of industry experts. Their experience can connect NZTE clients into the right global networks and assist their companies to operate at the optimum strategic level, while other customised Beachheads services will reduce costs and business risks, and lower the barriers to achieving market success.

Beachheads Week is part of NewThinking'06 which is destined to become the major annual event for New Zealand's high potential growth companies and the essential business meeting for New Zealand's rising stars. The event programme will bring together a wide range of companies from the life sciences and ICT sector for industry updates, investor and partnering presentations, networking, technical sessions and concurrent exhibitions, launched with a breakfast debate hosted by NZTE. It will provide opportunities to explore collaborations and synergies and is expected to attract national and international participants.

Other participating events include the NZBio Conference and Convergence Meeting, the Chasm Institute seminar, The Incubators NZ Expo and seminars, and the World Class New Zealander's Awards.

For more information on the Beachheads Programme and on Beachheads Week events see www.nzte.govt.nz/beachheads

To register your interest in attending any of the Beachheads Week activities call Sandra Lukey on (03) 374 6753 or Mobile 021 2262 858.

ENDS

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