Despite a dry summer for many in the primary sector, the Otago economy's overall performance is ''promising'', with the manufacturing sector performing well, Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead says.
In a report tabled at a recent council meeting in Dunedin, he said Otago's manufacturing sector was showing ''national leading growth figures'' for February.
Horticultural crops, in particular cherry production in Central Otago, were well above previous levels.
Visitor numbers were ''very strong''.
A recent report noted Otago's regional GDP growth was ''very slightly below the national average''.
But the region's ''diversified economy'' meant Otago would ''not be affected to the extent of our near neighbours'' by the dairy downturn, Mr Woodhead said.
