Closer African Ties Spell Significant Opportunities

Closer African Ties Spell Significant Opportunities For Kiwi Businesses

Launch of New Zealand Africa Business Council Will Foster Growth And Ideas Exchange

Auckland, 4 February 2013– The New Zealand Africa Business Council will be launched later today at a ceremony attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Murray McCully as well as Ambassadors and senior diplomatic heads from various African states such as South Africa, Botswana and Nigeria.

The New Zealand Africa Business Council has the support of initial founding members as well as New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the New Zealand Middle Eastern Business Council. In addition many New Zealand corporates that either do business with African based companies or want to start exporting to the region are also members.

The Chairman of the New Zealand Africa Business Council (NZABC) and the Honorary Consul for Botswana, Chris Jones said that he is delighted with the response by New Zealand companies to the formation of the organisation.

“Quite simply we’ve been inundated with requests for membership from some of New Zealand’s largest companies. The aims of NZABC are to foster positive relationships between New Zealand companies and African Government agencies including forums encouraging the exchange of information through to trade delegations and in general creating business opportunities for our members.”

Chairman Chris Jones says that Africa represents enormous opportunities for New Zealand.

“I have done business all over the African continent for many years and I have never seen more opportunities for New Zealand companies to sell services, products and ideas to the region than now. For the period 2001 – 2010 six of the world’s top 10 fastest growing economies were in Sub-Saharan Africa1.

Africa - rich in resources, human capital and potential - is looking for New Zealand partners that can share in developing mutual business opportunities together.”

Mr Anthony Mongalo the South African High Commissioner was presented with an award by Chairman Chris Jones for his enormous contribution to developing trade, cultural and diplomatic ties between New Zealand and Africa.

Chris Jones adds that Mr Mongalo has been a pivotal figure in developing better relations between New Zealand and the African region.

“This award is just a small token on behalf of NZABC and the people of New Zealand to recognise the tremendous work of the South African High Commissioner to create closer ties not just with South Africa but the whole region – without the contribution and support of Mr Mongalo we wouldn’t be here today,” says Jones.

For NZABC membership or to find out more about Africa please visit www.nzabc.org

1 African Bank Development Group

ENDS

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