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PM tells Dubai NZ is open for business

Author
Barry Soper,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Apr 2015, 5:28AM
(John Key: Getty Images)
(John Key: Getty Images)

PM tells Dubai NZ is open for business

Author
Barry Soper,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Apr 2015, 5:28AM

UPDATED 9:01am: The powerful Gulf States are being sold the message that New Zealand is open for business.

John Key is currently in Dubai where he is meeting with the rulers of the United Arab Emirates and Dubai, and some leading business figures.

The Prime Minister says the Gulf countries are among the wealthiest in the world, home to around 50 million people, and they currently take $1.9 billion worth of our exports a year.

"Today presents, I believe, a fantastic opportunity to highlight the strong business connections between New Zealand and the Gulf cooperation council, and the many opportunities for New Zealand companies."

The Prime Minister opened his bid in Dubai telling businessmen that his Government backs investment and business.

"We are ranked first in the world for protecting investors according to the World Bank for doing business report. We are ranked first in the world for the ease of starting a business with a competitive and low compliance tax structure."

Key visited the Burj Khalifa, which is the world's tallest building later in the day, and fawned over his hotel experience in the country.

"We stayed at the Burj Al Arab, which I'm happy to say is the finest hotel I have stayed at anywhere in the world and the Burj Khalifa was in the process of being built at that time."

The Prime Minister says he's visiting the Gulf States this week because New Zealand hasn't paid the area enough attention.

Key acknowledges the meetings gave him an opportunity to promote New Zealand business, and work on a deeper trade relationship.

He has also made a visit to a supermarket in Dubai to see first hand the demand for New Zealand goods there.

Mr Key says 78 products from 20 New Zealand brands are already on the shelves.

But overall, he admits we're already lagging behind what the Australians have achieved in the region.

"There probably isn't a week that goes by when there's not an Australian minister here," he told press. "Tony Abbott has apparently been here four times in the time that he's been Prime Minister. The economic opportunities here are immense and these are very wealthy people."

 

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