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Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has welcomed a new report that provides wide-ranging insights into the food and beverage industry.

“The Food and Beverage Information Project’s Industry Snapshot is the definitive outline of the state of the industry in New Zealand,” Mr Joyce says.

The Government has today confirmed its plans to establish the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on 1 July this year.

The Ministry will bring together the existing functions of the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Department of Labour and Department of Building and Housing.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says the new Ministry will assist the Government drive forward its business growth agenda and make it easier for businesses to engage with the Government.

Salam alaykum

Tena koutou katoa

Greetings to you all

First, can I say what an absolute privilege it is to be asked to provide the concluding remarks to this wonderful event: the International Exhibition & Conference on Higher Education.

I come from a small country from the other end of the world. New Zealand is a good 17 or 18 hours flight from Riyadh but it is a testament to how truly international that international education is today that every year 7000 Saudi students study in my country.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce will today travel to the Gulf states of Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to raise New Zealand’s profile as a destination for international students and to support education companies seeking to grow their business in the region.

“Since 2008 students from the Gulf States studying in New Zealand have grown by 33.4 per cent and are now approaching 7500. This makes the Gulf States our fifth largest source of international students,” Mr Joyce says.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has today announced the results of a review into the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships.

Following feedback from the sector, changes have been made which will help ensure young researchers are supported in establishing their careers in New Zealand.

A review of the scheme was undertaken last year seeking the views and insights from New Zealand’s science community.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced the appointment of three new convenors to the Marsden Fund Council.

The Marsden Fund was established by the Government in 1994 to fund excellent fundamental research. It is a contestable fund administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand on behalf of the Marsden Fund Council.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce is encouraging the public to visit the Science in the City exhibition which opens tomorrow on Auckland’s waterfront.

For the first time, government scientists from all the Crown Research Institutes are coming together to show the Auckland community how their science, and the innovative work they do, benefits all New Zealanders.

“This is a unique opportunity to see how key research and technology institutes are helping to answer the world's science questions,” Mr Joyce says.

The Government is investing $1.8 million over the next three years to support the development of a high-tech business hub in central Christchurch, Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce announced today.

Mr Joyce said the Ministry of Science and Innovation and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise were working in partnership with Christchurch City Council and the private sector to establish the Enterprise Precinct and Innovation Campus (EPIC) on the corner of Tuam and Manchester Streets.

The Government is boosting its support for the Christchurch international education sector with a dedicated $5 million fund that will promote the city overseas as an education destination over the next four years, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce announced today.

“Christchurch is normally our second largest destination for international students and the city has an international reputation for very high-quality education,” Mr Joyce says.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has announced today that there will be no increase to the student allowance parental income threshold this year.

Student allowance rates and student loans living costs will be increased by 1.77 percent on 1 April 2012 as part of the 2012 Annual General Adjustment.

“Freezing the threshold at current levels is the first step in curbing the major expenditure increase in student allowances over the last few years as we look to better target this support to students who need it most,” Mr Joyce says.

Christchurch’s earthquakes have had a big impact on the number of international students studying in the city with a 37% drop in 2011, latest figures from the Education Ministry show.

Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce says the results were not unexpected.

“The earthquakes in Canterbury have severely impacted the number of people from overseas wishing to study in Christchurch,” Mr Joyce says.

Acting Prime Minister Bill English and Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce say they are deeply saddened by the news that Sir Paul Callaghan has died in Wellington.

"Sir Paul Callaghan was an outstanding New Zealander who made his mark as a world-leading scientist. He fought a valiant battle with cancer, and has been taken from us far too early," Mr English says. "Our thoughts are with Sir Paul's family at this time.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce today announced that United States investor Peter Thiel has established a New Zealand venture capital fund alongside the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund and private investors.

The Valar Ventures Fund is a $40 million fund which involves NZVIF committing $20 million, $15 million from Peter Thiel, and $5 million from other New Zealand investors, including Wellington investment company Rangatira.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has congratulated Orion Health for winning the Supreme Award at the New Zealand International Business Awards ceremony in Auckland last night.

“Orion is an internationally-recognised health information technology vendor and New Zealand’s largest privately-owned software exporter. Its major projects around the world have made it a significant global player in electronic health recording,” Mr Joyce says.

Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce today announced three new appointments to the councils of the University of Auckland and Victoria University.

The new appointees are former Fonterra Chief Executive Andrew Ferrier to the University of Auckland Council, and lawyer Victoria Heine and accountant John Selby to the Victoria University of Wellington Council.

The new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will help the Government’s business growth agenda by implementing integrated policies to build a more competitive and internationally-focused economy, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.

Prime Minister John Key today announced that Cabinet had agreed in principle to establish the new Ministry, which will absorb the functions of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Science and Innovation, and the Department of Building and Housing.

The Government will focus on six key areas over the next three years to help companies grow and to build a more productive and competitive economy, Finance Minister Bill English and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce say.

Building a more competitive economy is one of four main priorities the Prime Minister has outlined for the Government in this term.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today met with European Union Commissioner for Research and Innovation to discuss how to strengthen New Zealand’s science links with Europe.

“Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn’s visit is an excellent opportunity to cement our European science links. Europe is New Zealand’s major science partner. Nearly 40 per cent of New Zealand’s international research connections are with European partners,” Mr Joyce says.

A total of 9616 training places will be available in 2012 for 16 and 17 year olds under the Government's Youth Guarantee Scheme, Tertiary Education, Skills & Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

The Government is investing more than $100 million in the Youth Guarantee Scheme in 2012, which encompasses fees-free tertiary places at levels 1-3 for 16 and 17 year olds, and Trades Academies.

The report of the Green Growth Advisory Group was released today at the annual Bluegreens Forum at Lake Pupuke, North Shore, with 26 recommendations for the Government to consider.

“This is a useful report for bringing together policies that will help the Government build a more productive and competitive economy, while meeting environmental objectives,” Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.

A new project designed to attract highly skilled workers to New Zealand is a great example of collaboration between the Government and the private sector, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.

The Government is providing $6 million to support Pacific peoples enter into trades training in 2012 and 2013 to assist with the Christchurch rebuild, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Hekia Parata announced today.

The initiative, part of the Government’s wider Skills for Canterbury contingency package of $42 million, is providing up to 300 fees-free places in trades training throughout New Zealand.

The opening of a new $10.5 million high-tech water ride in Rotorua is a further commitment to the local economy and an investment in New Zealand tourism, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.

Mr Joyce today opened the “Big Splash” ride at Rainbow Springs conservation park developed by Ngai Tahu Tourism. Around 300 people were involved in its construction.

Construction of a new $70 million gas plant to supply New Zealand Steel is another strong sign of confidence in the New Zealand economy, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.

Mr Joyce today marked the start of work to construct the new BOC gas facility at a ground breaking ceremony at New Zealand Steel’s site at Glenbrook. The construction will create 120 jobs over two years.

“The new contract for BOC Gases to build a plant to supply air gases to New Zealand Steel for at least another 20 years is excellent news,” Mr Joyce says.