Tauranga export companies are forecasting big financial gains thanks to New Zealand and Australia's new trade deal with 10 Asian nations.

The free trade agreement will open Tauranga's thriving export industry to a market of 500 million people from the 10 Asian countries that are members of the Association of South East Asian Nations - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
These countries make up 99 per cent of New Zealand's key trading partners in Asia and the ASEAN deal will gradually eliminate trade tariffs on a variety of goods from next year.
Ray Ellis is the owner of Tauranga export company Ellis Agricultural Services Limited and has been exporting to Asia since 1992.
The company exports several thousand tons of potatoes to Asia for use by food manufacturers, along with other products such as protein meals, and Ray estimates his export volume will now increase.
'We hope this deal will increase the amount we export but it will also go a long way in making New Zealand more competitive.
'Any increase spreads right through the community. It's not just our pockets that benefit, we can pay our employees better, buy better equipment and it just goes right across the supply chain,” says Ray.
Mark Cairns, Port of Tauranga CEO, says 550,000 tons of goods are exported to the countries that make up the ASEAN group and estimates that volume will increase as a result of the latest trade deal.
'We welcome any free trade agreement that reduces the impediment to exporters in New Zealand.
'Anything that reduces existing barriers will increase trade for local exporters and as New Zealand's largest port it's got to be a good thing for us and the entire region,” says Mark.
Grant Jeffery is the CEO of Kiwifruit Processing Company Limited located in Te Puna, which supplies frozen single strength puree to the food and beverage sectors world wide.
The company exports to many ASEAN countries, such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
'Asia is our major market by both volume and dollar. We are more competitive in this region due to better freight rates than that of Europe. Asia is on our doorstep.
'The ultimate result (of the ASEAN trade deal) is for an increase in revenue. But with free trade agreements, even once signed, there is only a gradual relaxation to zero in import tariffs over a medium period of time,” says Grant.
He believes there is an opportunity for Bay of Plenty exporters within the food sector to benefit from the deal because of New Zealand's reputation overseas for quality food.
'But we need to continually work at it because sometimes these windows of opportunity are only open for a short period of time before the focus moves to other countries,” says Grant.
Rob Jeffrey is the owner of Tauranga fish export company Jeffco International Limited and says the deal has created a unique opportunity for exporters.
'Bay of Plenty exporters in general will benefit from the reduction of tariffs and the freeing up of trade barriers.
'The deal has created a window of opportunity but we have to keep working on it,” says Rob.