Australian and New Zealand Business Community in Qatar

A Message from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise

New Zealand’s trade relationship with Qatar has continued along a path of growth and diversification in recent years, reflecting a broader and deeper level of engagement between our respective business communities. New Zealand companies are more regular visitors to Qatar, responding to greater demand for our products and services as Qatar focuses on its human, social, economic and environmental development agenda.

Trade with Qatar has grown accordingly. New Zealand’s merchandise exports increased by close to 20 percent in 2010, with key export items including meat (beef & sheep), dairy, and manufactured equipment for the petrochemical, telecommunications and construction sectors. Services exports also play an important role in this increasingly diversified bilateral relationship. Meanwhile, Qatar exports significant quantities of oil to New Zealand, along with useful quantities of fertilisers and other products, placing Qatar just outside our top ten global sources of imports.

From our regional office in Dubai, the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) team works both with individual companies and groups of companies from New Zealand to assist them in internationalising their business, while ultimately contributing toward growing the New Zealand economy. Current priority sectors for Qatar include food and beverage, professional services, construction and healthcare.

Over the past year, NZTE staff have been regular visitors to Qatar. We have been developing our networks in the healthcare sector in Qatar, building on relationships established during a professional services mission in 2009, and supporting companies establish direct business in food & beverage and construction.

ANZBIQ plays an important role in promoting the Qatar – New Zealand trade relationship and acting as a focal point for New Zealand companies and business people active in that market. NZTE values the partnership it maintains with ANZBIQ and appreciates the support provided by individual members. Success in business is based on bringing the right people together, something that both NZTE and ANZBIQ share as a mutual goal. We look forward to continuing this partnership in the year ahead.

For further information on NZTE, contact us directly or check our website.

Wayne Mikkelsen

Trade Commissioner

Middle East

Dubai