Deputy Mayor, Palmerston North City Council

Vision Manawatu is a recent creation set up as a joint venture between the public and private sectors. It brings together 5 organisations previously operating independently to focus their collective resources on the biggest issue for this region – economic growth. Both the Palmerston North City Council and the Manawatu District council are partners along with Massey University and CentralPower and a number of other private sector organisations. The organisation is now up and running with the announcement yesterday that John Hickling has been appointed Chief Executive.

The following comments provide a brief insight into the nature and objectives of Vision potential contribution to:

• Vision is the biggest employment initiative in this region in a decade
• It has regional focus not just a city focus
• It has involved the amalgamation of 5 previously independent organisations including the economic development sections of the two local authorities
• Vision has a contract with its funders to achieve a number of challenging objectives
• Vision’s biggest focus and challenge for the next three years is to grow the regional economy
• Its prime target is 1,000 jobs in 3 years
• Target sectors for economic growth are call centre, defence, distribution, education, food, research and visitor
• It has a Board appointed for skill
• 80% of its focus is expected to beon the expansion of existing business and 20% on attracting business to the region and new start ups

The targets set for Vision Manawatu are demanding but the rewards from its success will be immense.