New Zealand businesses are being urged to look for opportunities, now that a trade agreement has been signed with the ASEAN nations.
Lower tariffs are part of the deal.
Labour's Trade spokeswoman Maryan Street, who was in Bangkok for the signing, says even with the global downturn and the contraction of the ASEAN economies, the sheer volume of consumers makes the agreement attractive.
She says one good thing about the agreement is that it covers both commodities and services.
Street also says the economies collectively trade around one and a half trillion US dollars a year, so it's a great opportunity for New Zealand businesses.
A free trade agreement has been signed between New Zealand, Australia and the ASEAN group.
The agreement covers 12 countries with a combined population of around 600 million people.
