New Zealand looking to pick up U.S. government procurement deals

New Zealand businesses will be looking for a slice of the United States government's massive procurement spend during a visit by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce this week.

Joyce said Monday he was looking to promote business links and leverage New Zealand's accession to the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).

Under the GPA, which New Zealand joined in August last year, New Zealand companies were guaranteed access to U.S. government contracts, Joyce said in a statement.

"The U.S. government is the world's largest purchaser of goods and services. Federal government spending is worth more than 600 billion U.S. dollars per annum. New Zealand's GPA accession improves the contracting environment for New Zealand firms," said Joyce.

The mission aimed to attract interest in New Zealand solutions for U.S. state and federal government and to secure the attention of key U.S. government department leaders, buyers and influencers.

He would lead a delegation of New Zealand exporters targeting government procurement at a two-day CEO Summit in Washington, organized by the government's New Zealand Trade and Enterprise agency.

"It is a very lucrative, complex market, and GPA membership gives New Zealand businesses the right to bid for government contracts," Joyce said. Endit