National will put more emphasis on assisting businesses into overseas markets, says National Party Leader John Key.

In a speech in Christchurch today, Mr Key outlined five things National will do to advance economic development. They are:

· Give a sound and consistent strategic direction for the economic development sector.

· Trust regions to play their part without constant government interference.

· Clear up the clutter of economic development programmes.

· Focus more strongly on export market assistance, and less on the domestic market.

· Focus more strongly on providing information, advice and introductions, and less on providing financial assistance.

Mr Key criticised the direction the Government gives to the economic development sector, and the myriad programmes it has set up.

"National wants to concentrate economic development initiatives and programmes on what works and what is most effective.

"We have too many programmes, delivered by too many providers. We want to re-orient NZTE's programmes more towards market assistance, and place relatively less emphasis on domestic market assistance.

"In New Zealand, we do quite well at developing small to medium-sized, domestically oriented businesses. Where there is a problem is in getting these businesses to export and grow bigger.

"And we also want to focus economic development programmes more strongly on practical information, advice, market intelligence and introductions. We want to have less focus on simply providing cash grants and other forms of financial assistance."

Mr Key praised NZTE's Beachheads programme, which provides practical assistance to promising exporters, but criticised tax incentives for market development which are likely to feature in the upcoming Budget.