Microsoft with full confidence in the New Zealnd’s economy

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the news that Microsoft will make an investment in New Zealand to establish a data centre for its cloud services was welcomed news.

“International companies like Microsoft wouldn’t be investing here … if they didn’t have full confidence in the NZ economy.”

She said it was subject to normal regulatory processes.

“It signals to the world that New Zealand is open for business.”

She said by tackling the virus early, New Zealand was well-positioned to rebuild our economy.

Ardern said that while latest figures showed promising employment figures with the unemployment rate rising slightly from 4 percent to 4.2 percent, it did not take into account the worst of the lockdown.

“Obviously, a huge amount has changed in the last six weeks in New Zealand, and this global 1-in-100-year health and economic crisis will contribute to unemployment rising, of that there is no doubt.

“But we will continue to support people, to help protect jobs, to help grow jobs and help support peoples’ incomes.”

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