Group Calls For More Infrastructure Investment
October 16th, 2008
More pressure is coming on any incoming Govt to boost investment in transport infrastructure with the release of World Economic Forum’s latest Global Competitiveness Report. While it ranks NZ 24th overall for its relative global competitiveness, NZ only ranks 50th for the adequacy of its infrastructure with transport and energy seen as the key areas of concern. Other countries of similar size to NZ, such as Finland and Denmark, are ranked in the top 10, while Aust is ranked 25th internationally for the quality of its infrastructure.
Results Significant. NZ Council for Infrastructure Development has been quick to pounce on the findings calling for more effort to be put into infrastructure investment. CEO, Stephen Selwood says, “The survey results are important because they show how domestic and international business sees NZ from an investment perspective.”
Isolation Countered With Investment. Selwood says lifting NZ’s potential depends on enhancing capacity for the movement of people, goods, energy and information between different places domestically and internationally. Improvements in terms of time and cost can reduce the disadvantages of distance and have significant positive impacts on national productivity. He adds physical networks such as communications, roads and public transport are of particular relevance since they influence the location, timing and extent of development and growth.
Copyright © Media Information Ltd
NZ Transport Intelligence Briefing
Amalgamated Dairies
Strait Shipping