Hospitality ITO welcomes Free Trade Agreement

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: 8th April 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hospitality ITO welcomes Free Trade Agreement

The Government’s recently announced Free Trade Agreement with China allows provision for up to 1,800 Chinese skilled workers specialising in areas of specified skills shortage, including chefs specialising in Chinese cuisine.

The hospitality industry’s training partner, Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI), welcomes the Free Trade Agreement with China and the opportunities it presents for the hospitality industry. The promise of skilled chefs will bring relief to a constrained labour market while further developing the ethnic cuisine offered in New Zealand.

Research conducted by HSI found that with unprecedented growth in the hospitality industry since 2001 employers have been left facing the challenges of training and retaining staff.

HSI’s Chief Executive, Steve Hanrahan, says “we welcome the agreement and the relief it can provide for the hospitality industry as we strive to provide a skilled workforce in a tight labour market. With the injection of skilled workers, in particular chefs, into the New Zealand market we can continue to develop and maintain quality and introduce a diversity of talent in the industry”.

HSI believe that the increase in Chinese chefs will also support the development of ethnic cuisines in New Zealand.
“Asian foods are now a permanent and growing part of our hospitality industry. Greater experience and expertise in Chinese cooking will not only build on the popularity of this cuisine but also help to grow the wider New Zealand industry,” concluded Mr Hanrahan.

For more information regarding Hospitality training contact the Hospitality Standards Institute on 0800 ASK 4 HSI (0800 275 4474) or via the website www.hsi.co.nz

ENDS

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