Doha, March 06 (QNA) – As part of expanding its global strategy, private companies in New Zealand are eyeing on Qatar as a fertile market for growth, according to experts. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), the New Zealand Government’s economic development agency, held an advisory board meeting under its Beachheads programme in Qatar recently.

“The focus of companies in New Zealand has shifted from Western countries to the region. With Qatar becoming a major hub of industrial activities and development, a number of companies are keen on knowing about the market here,” Wayne Mikkelsen, Counsul General and Trade Commissioner, NZTE-Dubai told the English Language daily /The Peninsula/ published here on Saturday. NZTE focuses to provide access to experienced people, market knowledge and qualified opportunities to help New Zealand businesses grow and succeed in the global economy.

Through its “Beachheads” programme New Zealand companies are provided with faster access to better international networks. Last year, negotiations on the New Zealand – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were successfully concluded. The officials are looking into the legal verification process before details of the FTA are made public and put before Ministers for signature, hopefully by the end of the year. Added to this, exports to the GCC countries including Qatar had totalled more than $1bn last year, with an increase of 218 percent since 2000. “These factors make GCC our key attraction and the tremendous growth in Qatar opens up much potential for the New Zealand companies here,” he said. As the major step into this, NZTE held an advisory board meeting of its Beachheads programme in Doha recently.

“New Zealand is a success story of public and government partnership, with proven track records. Beachheads is a two-year programme designed for high-growth New Zealand companies looking to grow internationally. It connects interested companies to a network of advisors who can provide detailed insights into doing business in a specific international market as in Qatar,”said Mahmoud Haidar, Middle East Beachheads Advisory Board Chair.

Elaborating he said,”We provide valuable advice and contacts that can connect companies into the right partners and potential customers,” The meeting in Qatar had brought in experts from established organisations in various sectors here as advisory board members. They then conducted seminars focusing on business atmosphere here and what is happening in various sectors. A number of New Zealand company representatives also participated in the meeting and exchanged ideas on establishing firms here. “Qatar has been growing tremendously and the trade relations between both countries are getting better and growth has attracted many companies here for the first time. Companies from telecom to education and leverage sectors are keen on establishing here,” said Haidar. “New Zealand is now following up with the FTA and it reflects the seriousness that the country gives for the trade elations with the region. Qatar is one of the key markets for opportunity and is significant,” said Mikkelsen. (QNA)

Source: QNA