Topic “In the News News” — Exporter Magazine

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology are creating a nationwide network of ‘regional partners’ to help small businesses access information, funding, training and development services. From October 1 2010, personal and corporate taxes will be cut, NZ Superannuation, Working for Families and benefit payments will all increase, Finance Minister Bill English announced in the Budget. Dairy processors in the EU are turning to cheese in an effort to put the market turbulence of a year ago behind them, according to DairyReporter.com. A recovery in global demand, a weaker Euro, and better margins are expected to conspire to prompt an increase in cheese production this year. Close to 9,000 New Zealand firms had their rating downgraded in the first three months of 2010 while 10,500 firms received a rating upgrade, according to research released today by credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet. US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke leads an Asian mission for senior executives from 24 American companies to showcase the best of America’s energy, energy efficiency, electricity energy storage, transmission and distribution technologies, according to a UPI report.