Timaru District Launches Bold Initiative to Attract Business Investment A new campaign promoting Timaru district as the ideal location for businesses to establish, expand or relocate has been launched by the region's economic development agency Venture Timaru. The ‘Make Timaru Your Business’ initiative aims to highlight the district's strategic advantages and attract companies looking for a cost-e ective place to set up base. "Timaru o ers a rare combination of strategic location, a ordable operating costs and quality infrastructure that many businesses are seeking in today's competitive environment," says Nigel Davenport, Venture Timaru CEO. "We're taking a proactive approach to ensure decision-makers understand why our district represents such a persuasive proposition." He says Timaru’s central location provides great connectivity with 80 percent of the South Island's population within a 2.5-hour drive radius. This is enhanced by excellent transport links including PrimePort Timaru, rail connections and major highways. "Our location signi cantly reduces transport costs and increases operational e ciency for businesses," explains Nigel. "When you combine this with our development-ready land and competitive pricing, it creates a very compelling business case." He says the district also o ers a signi cantly reduced cost of living for employees. "Access to skilled talent is a critical consideration for any business decision," says Nigel. "Our proximity to regional training institutions like Ara Institute and major universities also ensures businesses can attract the right people with the right skills." The campaign also highlights the quality of life, family-friendly atmosphere and amenities the district o ers and Timaru's diverse economic base, which includes strong representation in food processing, agriculture, aquaculture, manufacturing and tourism sectors. Nigel says this balanced economy provides resilience and creates opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and innovation. Venture Timaru is enlisting local business leaders to help spread the message through their existing networks. It has created resources including a dedicated website (www.maketimaruyourbusiness.nz) and downloadable materials to support conversations. "We're asking our local business community to think about their suppliers, customers, and industry colleagues who might bene t from being here," explains Nigel. "Sometimes the most powerful endorsement comes from those already experiencing success in our district." The initiative forms part of Timaru's ‘Toward 2050’ strategic plan, focusing on sustainable growth and development. Nigel says that Venture Timaru o ers personalised support to interested businesses including assistance with land acquisition, regulatory guidance and introductions to service providers. Venture Timaru describes its approach, tongue in cheek, as ‘professionally predatory’ in seeking businesses that complement the district's existing strengths. It has speci cally identi ed sectors including logistics, agritech, advanced manufacturing, and biotech as prime targets for recruitment. "We're not waiting for opportunity to knock. We're actively identifying businesses that would bene t from being here and making a compelling case for them to join our community," says Nigel. "Each new business brings fresh talent, ideas and opportunities that help us all grow and innovate together." Timaru offers a rare combination of strategic location, affordable operating costs and quality infrastructure that many businesses are seeking in today's competitive environment. Nigel Davenport Chief Executive, Venture Timaru
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