Wayne Mikkelsen, consul general and trade commissioner of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), Dubai, who was leading the delegation under the Middle East Beachheads program, a government related program for exporters, said many New Zealand companies working internationally focus on high-value niches and have earned a reputation for their flexibility, competitiveness and ability to build successful and enduring relationships.
He said trade between Saudi Arabia and New Zealand is growing rapidly year after year. Currently, Saudi Arabia is ranked as New Zealand's 16th overall trading partner.
NZTE focuses on growing trade activities in the Kingdom, he added. "The purpose of the visit to Saudi Arabia was to expose New Zealand companies to deeper market insights, gaining a new awareness of sector-specific updates, and develop useful local contacts," Mikkelsen said.
He said Saudi Arabia is the largest market for New Zealand exports in the Middle East and the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded $530 million in 2009. This figure represents 25 percent of the total volume and trade between New Zealand and Arab Gulf countries.
Mikkelsen said NZTE's Beachheads program is designed for high-growth New Zealand companies committed to growing internationally.
Companies that participated in the Middle East Beachheads program include Kensington Swan, Burgerfuel, Education Global and Methven.
Mikkelsen said New Zealand mostly imports oil-related products from the Kingdom. But, he said, New Zealand exports agricultural and dairy products apart from construction and telecom-related products to Saudi Arabia.
The food and beverages sector epitomizes New Zealand export success. More than 80 percent of food production is exported, he added.
Remarkably for a nation of just over four million people, New Zealand is one of the world's top five dairy exporters, he said.
The agriculture sector has also been the impetus behind a very successful agricultural-technology industry. Companies have achieved international leadership in areas such as electric fencing, milk meters, livestock weighing equipment, and animal genetics, he added.
Mikkelsen said New Zealand has a vibrant business culture, notable for its innovation and world-class products and services. While the country has a long tradition as a successful exporter of primary products, other industries have experienced dramatic international growth in more recent years, such as software, screen production and marine construction.
In recent years, education links between the Kingdom and New Zealand have brought the bilateral relationship to new levels, demonstrated by a large uptake of Saudi Arabian students attending New Zealand tertiary institutions.
In 2009, over 5,500 Saudi students studied in New Zealand, a clear endorsement of the variable knowledge and expertise offered by New Zealand's professional service companies, Mikkelsen said.
He said some of New Zealand's construction companies also participated in last week's Saudi Build 2010. He was referring to the 22nd International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition which was held in Riyadh from Oct. 18 to 21.
Mahmoud Haider, Middle East Beachhead Advisory Board chairman, said the Beachhead program connects participating companies to a network of experienced business people around the world and New Zealand through a combination of private and public sector expertise.
"Beachhead advisers are successful private sector executives committed to sharing their knowledge and experience to help New Zealand businesses succeed internationally," he said, adding since 2002, more than 160 companies have been part of the Beachheads program.
Haider said Beachhead advisers are located in China, Japan, Europe, India, Middle East, North and South America, Southeast Asia and New Zealand.
Hesham Salah, business development manager of Middle East, NZTE, said the Gulf is a leading spot for the New Zealand companies. The New Zealand companies are aware of the importance of this market and particularly the Saudi Arabian Market. "Saudi Arabia, perhaps, is the only country in the region or maybe in the world which did not witness a major economic slowdown due to the global financial crisis," Salah said.
