New Zealand companies and business executives discuss growth strategies in the Middle East

Organised by the Middle East Initiative for New Zealand (MEINZ) -an independent, private, non-profit association of New Zealand companies, New Zealand's government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and other NZ Inc-groups also participated in the discussion forum.

During the workshop, key officials led by His Excellency Malcolm Millar, New Zealand Ambassador to the UAE, and His Excellency Steve Jones, New Zealand Consul General and Trade Commissioner for Middle East, Africa and Pakistan, discussed the importance of the Middle East region to New Zealand companies.

Promotion of New Zealand's expertise within the Middle East and the UAE market specifically has contributed to the overall growth of businesses in New Zealand. Ambassador Millar talked about the education sector where the high level of education offered in New Zealand has attracted a large number of KSA students in particular.

In addition to the strong educational ties between the UAE and New Zealand, the Ambassador also spoke about a recent public sector IP agreement signed between the governments of Abu Dhabi and New Zealand aimed at sharing New Zealand's expertise in environmental management.

The UAE is an important hub for New Zealand businesses and MEINZ contributes positively in boosting bilateral trade opportunities between New Zealand and the region. The MEINZ workshops and meetings provide New Zealand companies with a forum to exchange knowledge and experiences on how to increase and expand their presence in the region.

MEINZ meets once a month in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as other Gulf cities such as Muscat and Riyadh. More than 100 New Zealand business leaders, who have made the Middle East their home, have come together to form MEINZ.