Creating Opportunity for Small-Firm Exporters Through Regional Free Trade Agreements: A Strategic Perspective from New Zealand (Report‪)‬

1. NEW ZEALAND'S APPROACH TO INTERNATIONALISATION As in other countries, New Zealand SMEs constitute a significant proportion of the business population and as such the sector plays an important role in terms of social cohesion and economic development. In fact 99 percent of all firms (there are approximately 400,000 'economically significant enterprises' in New Zealand) employ fewer than 100 employees and 84 percent employ fewer than 5 (Ministry of Economic Development, 2007). These demographics clearly demonstrate the dependence of the New Zealand economy on the SME sector.