Media Release - 25 June 2025 The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Felicity Roxburgh as its...
Guest post: Business has key role to future-proof pipeline of Asia-competent workforce

Guest post from Kirk Hope, CEO of BusinessNZ
Asia New Zealand Foundation recently released a report on the status of school leavers’ Asia-readiness. Data shows only 37 percent of senior secondary school students think Asia-related skills and knowledge will be important for the country’s future workforce. This figure is down from 46 percent in 2012 when the Foundation first conducted the survey.
Why does this matter to businesses?
It’s a fact that New Zealand’s present and future – economically, socially, and culturally – are tied with Asia. Seven of our top 10 trading partners are from Asia. According to Statistics New Zealand, almost one in four people (23.1 percent or 307,233 people) living in the Auckland region in 2013 identified with one or more Asian ethnic groups, compared with one in five people (18.9 percent) in 2006.
Is it any wonder businesses are already looking for employees with Asia-related skills? They need staff with these skills for their local and international operations. And having these skills will be even more an advantage in the future.
That is why it is disconcerting to know that fewer than four in 10 of New Zealand’s future workforce think Asia-related skills will be important. This trend should be corrected otherwise young New Zealanders will miss out on the growing number of opportunities the rise of Asia’s influence and relevance bring!
The question is: Does business have a role in ensuring we will have the supply of Asia-competent talent in the pipeline? If so, how can business help?
Earlier in the year, a report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) entitled ‘Realizing Human Potential in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,’ proposed a series of measures to align education with future job requirements.
The report, which was put together by business leaders, policy-makers, unions, educational institutions and academics, recommends that education and business work closer together. This makes a lot of sense.
Among other things, the WEF report suggests involving the private sector in teacher trainings through initiatives such as teacher ‘externships’ in businesses. I think that’s an excellent idea. Some organisations may already be doing this to some degree. As part of its education programme, the Asia New Zealand Foundation takes educators on trips to Asia to help strengthen teachers’Asia capabilities. We should build on programmes like this and consider others that would help align our educational system with the demands of this Asian century.
I’m sure there are many other ways the business and education sectors can work together to help the future New Zealand workforce to be more Asia-ready. Perhaps a good start would be for education and business representatives to sit down and talk.
Admittedly, initiatives of this nature require time to bear fruit. This would require commitment from stakeholders in the education and business sectors for this to gain traction and produce outcomes. But we have to start.
Such an undertaking is not only appropriate but imperative not only for our children’s future but indeed for New Zealand’s future.
REGISTER WITH TRADE WORKS
Register to stay up to date with latest news, as well as saving and discussing articles you’re interested in.
Latest News
Felicity Roxburgh Appointed Executive Director of the New Zealand International Business Forum
Media Release - 25 June 2025 The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Felicity Roxburgh as its new Executive Director. She will officially take up the role on 7 July 2025. Felicity brings nearly two decades of...
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT NZ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM
Media release, 4 June 2025 Long-time trade advocate Stephen Jacobi will retire from the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) on 30 June 2025. “Stephen has made a major contribution to New Zealand’s economy and our trade interests through his articulate,...
ADDRESS TO THE 56TH ONE STOP UPDATE FOR THE ACCOUNTANT IN BUSINESS
CHRISTCHURCH AND AUCKLAND, MAY 2025 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GLOBAL MACRO-ECONOMIC AND TRADE UPDATE My thanks as always to Brightstar for the invitation to be with you today. As some of you will know I have been a serial attender at these events, normally...
2025 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement
Jeju, Republic of Korea | 16 May 2025 Read the original post here 1.We, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT), met in Jeju, Republic of Korea, from 15-16 May 2025, under the chairmanship of H.E. Inkyo Cheong, Minister of...
REMARKS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT NZ RURAL AND PROVINCIAL SECTOR MEETING
2 MAY 2025 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IMPACT OF TRADE WARS ON NZ My thanks to Local Government NZ for the invitation to be with you today. As a resident of Napier I am all the more pleased to contribute to this rural and provincial sector meeting. Whether you...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE ON A COMPREHENSIVE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH INDIA
April 2025 Introduction This submission is being made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), whose members are listed at Annex A[1]. NZIBF is a group of senior business leaders working together to promote New Zealand’s engagement in the...
LAMENTATION DAY
When President Trump spoke in the White House Rose Garden to launch his wrecking-ball “fair and reciprocal tariffs”, there were some in the audience wearing hard hats. While this was doubtless to show support for the move amongst hard-working Americans, maybe...
BUSINESS FORUM DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH UNJUSTIFIED US TARIFFS
Media release, 4 April 2025 The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) has reacted with deep disappointment to the news that the United States will implement an additional 10 percent ad valorem tariff on New Zealand exports. “The United States is a close and...
Bull in a China Shop: Market Price Support in the Dairy Industry
Market price support policies (aka as “subsidies”) in the agriculture sector are a classic example of what is meant by 'beggar thy neighbour'. One country attempts to improve its own economic situation by intervening in the market on behalf of its producers, at the...
BUSINESS FORUM WELCOMES INDIA FTA NEGOTIATIONS
Media release, 17 March 2025 The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) welcomes the launch of free trade negotiations with India, announced in Delhi, and is particularly pleased that these will proceed on a comprehensive basis. “There is enormous value to be gained...
Playing the long trade game with India
Prime Minister Luxon is at last making his visit to India with a large business and community delegation. We wish them well in expanding and deepening the relationship with India. The reasons for doing so we have explained previously. Our Government’s...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
PROPOSED GREEN ECONOMY JOINT WORKING GROUP WITH CHILE AND SINGAPORE MARCH 2025 Introduction This submission is made on behalf of the New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF), whose members are listed at Annex A[1]. NZIBF is a forum of senior business leaders...
PRESENTATION TO APEC BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL: ADDRESSING PROTECTIONISM AND NON TARIFF BARRIERS
BRISBANE, 24 FEBRUARY 2025 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZIBF My thanks to Anna Curzon and Stephanie Honey for giving me one last opportunity to speak to ABAC. I want to talk today about rising protectionism and proliferating non tariff barriers. It’s not a new...
Business Leaders Sound Alarm on Global Economic Uncertainty: Call for Unified APEC Action
Brisbane, Australia, 25 February 2025 - Among rising global economic tension, the APEC Business Advisory Council met in Brisbane this week to reaffirm its support for the value of trade and cooperation, and the original APEC commitment to free, fair, open and...
REMARKS TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE COMMITTEE – 20 FEBRUARY 2025
RATIFICATION OF NEW ZEALAND-UAE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (CEPA) STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NZIBF Thank you Chair for the opportunity to appear before the Committee today. I do so on behalf of the members of the NZ International Business...
0 Comments