New Zealand Ambassador Rodney Harris and members of the New Zealand-Saudi Arabian Business Network were joined by more than 100 trade and investment leaders from both countries for a presentation from New Zealand Trade Commissioner Steve Jones.

“This meeting has been very worthwhile in ensuring our two countries’ continued interest and investment in each other,” said Harris.

“New Zealand and Saudi Arabia are drawing ever closer together through mutual interests and this is shown in the expansion of diplomatic relations and the establishment of the Saudi Consulate General in Auckland.”

The ambassador said the trust, belief and cooperation between the two countries are obvious when considering just two industries, dairy and education.

The dairy industry boasts the largest single New Zealand investment in Saudi Arabia, the Fonterra processing plant in Dammam, valued at approximately $25 million.

While in education there are around 7,000 young Saudis studying in New Zealand, with over 4,000 under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program.

During his presentation, Jones outlined the benefits of investing in New Zealand for Saudi Arabian businesses, businessmen and entrepreneurs.

He showed how New Zealand is a young adventurous country free from the constraints of many older nations, and alongside its ‘clean, green’ image, in June of this year New Zealand was ranked the least-corrupt nation in the world by the World Justice Project, in its new Rule of Law Index.

This ranking is another feather in New Zealand’s cap, after the country tied for first with Denmark and Singapore in Transparency International’s 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index.

“All of this goes to show the value of partnering with New Zealand, a country that is open, stable, democratic and transparent,” said Jones, “and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) intends to link both the Saudi and New Zealand business community, in both countries.”

The Kingdom is a key export market for New Zealand, in particular for companies in the food and beverage (F&B) sector.

Recent trade figures indicate that there has been more than 35 percent growth in F&B exports from New Zealand to Saudi Arabia during 2009/2010.

Jones outlined the five key sectors in which NZTE aims to help New Zealand business expand and develop within the Kingdom. Those sectors are F&B, construction, marine engineering, e-Health and Education.

“NZTE aims to help unleash the potential of New Zealand businesses in these areas in particular” said Jones.

“We can do this by cultivating support networks for companies within Saudi Arabia and helping accurately match firm capabilities to market opportunities. The Business Network is a key asset in ensuring our success,” he added.

The New Zealand-Saudi Arabian Business Network currently has around 50 New Zealand members based in Saudi Arabia, all leaders in their respective trade sectors.