Gerard Casey EBOP Chamber of Commerce CEO

The Eastern Bay of Plenty Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to supporting the Regional Growth Study announced last Thursday.

The study was announced in a speech prepared for delivery by Minister of Business, Innovation and Employment Stephen Joyce for the wider Bay of Plenty, aimed at furthering development in the region.

It will look in detail at how this region can build upon its spectral strengths and identify further opportunities to promote economic growth.

The Bay of Plenty study is being commissioned by the MBIE, together with the Ministry for Primary Industries. The study will evaluate opportunities for increasing investment, employment and incomes in the wider Bay of Plenty.

The aim of the study will also identify constraints to growth and how these can be overcome.

It is important new economic growth has a focus on business growth opportunities. It's important we create opportunities for innovation and support businesses wanting to grow and what skills are missing in the region.

EBOP already has a number of successful businesses based here and they are focussed on staying here and growing; and it's important they support the aspirations for growth in the whole Bay of Plenty.

Strengths in the EBOPregion include geothermal energy, the most sunshine hours, aquaculture and others are sure to be part of the study on how these can be used to make the region grow and be a significant player in the wider Bay of Plenty.