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Government and regional development - A partnership approach
Geoff Dangerfield
Chief Executive, Ministry of Economic Development
Speech notes
Presentation Outline:
- Context: national economic development indicators
- Regional progress
- Challenges for regions and central government
Economic Development Indicators
All Regions are Contributing to Growth
 Average annual percent change in real GDP, March years 2000-2004 Innovation Can Drive Growth
- Increasing productivity is a key driver of economic growth
- Innovation will underpin future productivity gains
- Regional partnerships and networks promote the better functioning of the innovation system
- This will improve the business environment and benefit firms:
- Better access to greater pools of knowledge
- Economies of scale
Progress to Date â?? Regional Development
- Increased collaboration between firms and institutions
- Greater alignment of economic objectives within regions
- Increased focus on training
- Support for innovative firms
The Challenge for Regions
- Regions have identified comparative advantages through their strategies â?? but much remains to be done:
- Strategies: Improve knowledge of overseas market needs;
- Continue to collaborate and build critical mass;
- MRIs may not be the right focus for some regions
Future Regional Development Policy Directions
- MED is seeking input from the regions in order to:
- Ensure that regional policy reflects its multiple objectives
- Balance and coordinate bottom up and top down initiatives
- Assess whether we've got the right tools with which to foster innovation at the regional level
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