Readout: Minister Ng speaks with New Zealand’s Minister of Police, Fisheries, Revenue and Small Business

July 28, 2020 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

Yesterday, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, spoke with the Honourable Stuart Nash, New Zealand’s Minister of Police, Fisheries, Revenue and Small Business.

As Canada and New Zealand take action to help keep their people safe and work to help their economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministers discussed how to support small businesses to help them rebuild in the months to come.

Minister Ng highlighted the importance of the global rules-based trade system and emphasized that helping businesses access opportunities and customers in the global marketplace will put them in a stronger position to recover more quickly.

They spoke about the need to support small businesses in going digital and pivoting more of their business online, which is crucial now more than ever.

The ministers also discussed next steps for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Party on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship, which has shifted its focus to helping small businesses deal with the impacts of the pandemic.

The ministers also discussed strengthening their collaboration on medical supplies and working toward finding a vaccine for COVID-19.

Minister Ng concluded the call by offering her best wishes to Minister Nash and all New Zealanders as the world continues the fight against COVID-19 together.