Enthusiastic about role representing Dunedin

Aimee Jephson will represent Dunedin's interests in offshore markets. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Aimee Jephson will represent Dunedin's interests in offshore markets. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade economic policy officer Aimee Jephson has embraced her new role for the ministry with much enthusiasm.

In fact, it is impossible for her to find a downside to a role which will see her become Dunedin's representative within the ministry - no matter where in the world she ends up being posted.

Dunedin has been chosen as the pilot for a new programme sponsored by the ministry and Business New Zealand in which diplomatic trainees get to know, and become known in, a New Zealand town.

In time, the ministry wants to build a network of contacts in New Zealand's cities and town.

Ms Jephson (32) is from Dunedin and has spent this week visiting exporters, the University of Otago, business and civic leaders, Port Otago, Dunedin International Airport and others she believes will help her build up a picture of what the ministry can do to advance the interests of the city abroad.

"I am learning about Dunedin industries so that over time I can build a better understanding of the issues they face.

"Things like where are the opportunities to grow those industries from what is happening offshore will be important."

The ministry had offices in 50 countries and staff in those offices monitored trade developments in each of those countries, Ms Jephson said.

That helped staff build up valuable trading links around the world.

While ministry staff often worked at government-to-government level, they also developed relationships with businesses that opened doors for New Zealand firms offshore, she said.

"Most people see us working at a higher level but in China, the state is very much involved in business-to-business activities. We can assist businesses on a variety of levels."

The aim of the programme was for new recruits to the ministry to build up an understanding and contacts in a city or town before being posted overseas.

One of the important aspects was to develop a programme that reflected the needs of Dunedin, she said.

"I'm not here to say this is the programme and here is what we are going to do. I want ideas from the people I meet that will help meet their requirements.

"If there is a question I cannot answer immediately, I will ask the person who knows and get back to them."

In Ms Jephson's case, she expected to keep her liaison role for Dunedin for up to 10 years. That would mean at least two visits to the city a year and regular phone and email contact with people in the city.

If exporters were visiting a country in which she was stationed, her role would be to try and help introduce them to the right people with whom they could do business.

 

 

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