DCCI discusses potential ways to enhance trade ties and explore investment opportunities in New Zealand

The meeting discussed the potential ways to improve the trade relations between the UAE and New Zealand and the call for UAE businessmen to benefit from the investment opportunities available in New Zealand, especially in tourism, medical care and education sectors.

Al Mutaiwee welcomed the Minister stressing that the UAE and New Zealand enjoy strong bilateral diplomatic and economic relations, and that New Zealand is one of the most attractive tourist destination for UAE nationals.

'In spite of the geographical distance between Dubai and New Zealand, both countries enjoy a developing economic relation, mainly with Dubai. The New Zealand Trade Representative Office in Dubai plays a key role in developing ties between the New Zealand business community and its counterpart in Dubai. It is also useful to have direct flights on Emirates airline between the two countries which is planning to double its current 42 flights a week to 84 including New Zealand,' said Al Mutaiwee.

His Excellency Phil Goff, the New Zealand Minister, highlighted the strong economic relations between New Zealand and Dubai which the New Zealand businessmen consider a very significant business hub in the Middle East region.

'The number of companies operating in Dubai is gradually increasing thanks to the encouraging business environment which Dubai provides to develop business and the support offered to these companies by the New Zealand Trade Representative Office in Dubai to upgrade and enhance its ties with the local business community in Dubai,' said Mr. Goff.

He pointed out that New Zealand is distinguished with its open competitive markets and strong variable economy, in addition to the developing tourist sector thanks to the Government's plans aiming to support its economy by attracting more foreign investments in the fields of agriculture, industry, information technology, education, medical care and tourism.

'New Zealand offers attractive investment opportunities in education, health and therapeutic tourism which we are trying to promote in Dubai with the help of our trade representative office and the efforts of the DCCI, believing that Dubai is our trade gate to the Middle East markets. We are also planning to increase the number of tourists visiting New Zealand, we receive more than 2.4 million tourists a year,' Mr. Goff added.

Dubai's non-oil foreign trade with New Zealand in 2004 reached AED 301.1 million, as Dubai's imports from New Zealand in 2004 reached 228.1 million, whereas Dubai's exports to New Zealand in the same year hit AED 57.1 million, as Dubai's re-exports to New Zealand in 2004 surged to AED 16 million.