By Katlene O. Cacho

NEW Zealand hopes to increase the presence of its food and beverage products in Cebu, citing opportunities in the growing tourism sector.

“The idea of joining the expo is to have a better feel of the Cebu market,” said New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) commissioner to Manila Ramoncito Bernales on the sidelines of the 11th Cebu Food Expo at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino last Friday.

Read the rest of this article on Sun.Star Network Online

By ALAN KOZIARSKI June 1, 2010

FOR the past 40 years the Singaporean government has advocated study hard, get ahead. And it has worked. Exceptionally. But in an economically and environmentally changing world, the government is now highlighting the importance of innovation, implementing a raft of programmes across universities and industries, including the National Framework for Innovation and Enterprise.

But is innovation innate, or can you foster it? In this, New Zealand offers a good example in terms of scale. Both New Zealand and Singapore have similar population sizes and small, open economies.

But in terms of history, New Zealand’s remote geographic position gave it a head start in innovative thinking. Perched on the edge of the globe, early pioneers to the country had to make do with what they had on hand, and as the story goes, a New Zealander could create anything with a piece of Number 8 fencing wire. …

Read the rest of this article on Business Times

New Zealand Geothermal Association at World Geothermal Congress 2010
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise

Bali, Indonesia | April 2010

The New Zealand Geothermal Association and the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise engaged Rice Communications in April 2010 to help drive positive media coverage on their participation at the World Geothermal Congress 2010 April 25-30, 2010 in Bali, Indonesia. •The objective was to position New Zealand as a geothermal leader with its pioneering role in harnessing geothermal energy resources, industry expertise, and overall commitment to promote clean, sustainable energy. Additionally, Rice Communications was to leverage participation at WGC2010 to raise the profile of New Zealand energy companies and convey their commercial acumen to deliver on the world stage.

Rice Communications was successful in obtained positive media coverage in both print and online media channels. In addition, we secured interviews and article placement for our client in tier 1 publications including Jakarta Post, Globe Asia, Koran Investor Daily and Indonesia Mining Magazine Petro Miner.

Alan Koziarski, Singapore | Tue, 04/27/2010 8:39 AM | Opinion

Indonesia and New Zealand have been economic and trade partners for so long that there is no more significant partner for New Zealand in this region. Indonesia was New Zealand’s seventh largest export market for the year ending June 2009 and for the same period trade between the two countries was worth over US$1.5 billion FOB. Indonesia is New Zealand’s largest trading partner in ASEAN.

The New Zealand and Indonesian markets are complementary and largely non-competitive. New Zealand primarily imports petroleum products and some manufactured goods from Indonesia; in return, Indonesian consumers enjoy New Zealand primary produce, such as beef and dairy products.

…

Clean energy development holds the potential to be another viable sector for an investment partnership between the two nations.

New Zealand sits in the southern Pacific Ocean, while Indonesia lies in the tropics: Both countries have considerably different environments. We share, however, one important geographical aspect: Both of us are situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, among the world’s most active volcanic zones. We are thus are both blessed with abundant geothermal energy resources. …

Read the rest of this article on The Jakarta Post (27 April 2010)

For more information about New Zealand’s participation at the World Geothermal Congress 2010, please view this page.

New Zealand highlights geothermal leadership at World Geothermal Congress 2010

Bali, Indonesia, 26 April 2010 – New Zealand showcases its geothermal leadership at the World Geothermal Congress (WGC) 2010 which opens today at the Bali International Convention Centre.

The New Zealand Geothermal Association (NZGA) and a large delegation of scientists, engineers, consultants and investors, and major companies will be demonstrating a full spectrum of professional services and expertise in geothermal development with the support of the New Zealand Government.

Participating exhibitors include Auckland University and the Institute of Earth Science & Engineering (booth GC14), the New Zealand Engineering (booth GC7) including Maskell Production Ltd, Allied Industrial Engineering, Robt Stone and Parsons Brinckerhoff Power, New Zealand’s Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences /GNS Science (booth HC9), PT AECOM Indonesia (booth HC8), Sinclair Knight Merz (booth HC6) and Tiger Energy (booth HB4).

“The significant presence at WGC 2010 globally reinforces New Zealand’s solid track record in this industry and gives us the opportunity to forge deeper partnerships with other leading geothermal markets in Asia Pacific such as Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is also a fitting launch pad for our joint hosting with Australia of the World Geothermal Congress in 2015,” said Alan Koziarski, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s Regional Director for South and South East Asia.

Blessed with rich geothermal fields, New Zealand is a pioneer in developing large-scale geothermal electricity generation as early as the 1950s.  Today, it combines experience with cutting-edge geosciences research and innovation to harness the potential of geothermal to deliver cost-competitive, sustainable energy not just in New Zealand but across the region.

“The geothermal industry is the place to be, with a lot of development over the last few years and much more to come in the near term.  Geothermal energy is now getting the profile it deserves as a reliable, clean and renewable form of energy. It is independent of weather and can deliver energy at some of the most competitive unit rates of any energy option for heat or electricity generation,” said Spence McClintock, President of the New Zealand Geothermal Association.

Geothermal energy provides approximately 0.4% of the world global power generation. As of 2008, global installed capacity of geothermal energy for power generation was more than10GW. The International Geothermal Association has predicted this to reach 11 GW by 2010, and dramatically grow in the next few years as the world shifts to cleaner fuel.

In New Zealand, geothermal energy is currently the second-most used renewable fuel for electricity generation, after hydro, currently generating around 14% of all New Zealand electricity. And with government’s aim to generate 90 percent of its electricity requirements from renewable sources by 2025, research, exploration and infrastructure investments into geothermal energy development in New Zealand are expected to further escalate.

New Zealand already has one of the fastest growing rates of geothermal development in the world, recently jumping from No.8 to No.5 in ranking. “We have seen a steep upward growth for geothermal power generation domestically, proving the commercial viability of this clean energy resource to fuel our industries and homes,” McClintock added.

Overseas, New Zealand companies are consulting for and supplying to various partners in countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea and a range of countries through the western Pacific and Asia in particular, but with interests spreading through Chile and other parts of South America, as well as east African Rift countries.

In Indonesia, New Zealand built the Kamojang 1 Project, the first geothermal power station in the country.  It funded and provided technical engineering support for the facility which opened in 1982.  Companies like PB, PT AECOM, and SKM remain heavily involved in active geothermal projects including Kamojang, Darajat, Dieng, Gunung Salak, Wayang Windu, Lahendong and Ulumbu.

New Zealand continues to be one of the few countries to offer broad geothermal post-graduate training, as it has done for the last 30 years.  Many of the leading national engineers and scientists in Indonesia or the Philippines have had training in New Zealand, and the relationships formed are valued by all those involved.

New Zealand Companies and Organisations at WGC 2010 include:

• Auckland University www.iese.co.nz;  www.esc.auckland.ac.nz
• Auckland UniServices Ltd www.uniservices.co.nz
• ARANZ Geo www.aranz.com ; www.gns.cri.nz
• Parsons Brinckerhoff New Zealand www.pbworld.com
• PT AECOM Indonesia www.aecom.com
• Sinclair Knight Merz www.skmconsulting.com
• Maskell http://www.maskell.co.nz
• Contact Energy www.contactenergy.co.nz
• Allied Industrial Engineering www.aie.co.nz
• Mighty River Power www.mightyriverpower.co.nz
• Beca Group Limited www.beca.com
• Tauhara North No. 2 Trust www.tauharano2.co.nz
• Mechanical Technology Ltd www.mtlnz.co.nz
• MB Century www.mbcentury.com
• East Harbour www.eastharbour.co.nz
• Alstom www.au.alstom.com
• GEOKEM www.geokem.co.nz

About New Zealand Geothermal Association

The New Zealand Geothermal Association (NZGA) is a scientific, educational and cultural organisation established to promote geothermal capability in New Zealand. The NZGA is an affiliated member of the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and of the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ) and presently has 275 members. For more information: www.nzgeothermal.org.nz

About New Zealand Trade & Enterprise

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the New Zealand government’s national economic development agency.  In 2008, NZTE was judged the world’s best trade promotion agency at the World Trade Promotion Organisation Awards.  Its role is to lift New Zealand’s economic performance and improve living standards for all New Zealanders by helping businesses to grow and compete internationally. For more information: www.nzte.govt.nz

Media Contacts :

Spence McClintock
President
New Zealand Geothermal Association
M: +64 27 2012656
E: spence.mcclintock@mightyriver.co.nz

Donna Garcia
Senior Consultant
Rice Communications for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
T: +65 6221 8729
M: +65 9734 8808
E: donna.garcia@ricecomms.com

New Zealand in South East Asia press centre: www.newzealandinsoutheastasia.com