New Italy Trade Commissioner Appointed

Auckland, April 30, 2003 -- Charles Haddrell has been appointed as Trade New Zealand's Trade Commissioner and New Zealand Consul General in Milan.

Trade New Zealand's Milan office covers Italy and all markets in Nordic, Central and Eastern Europe, Balkans, Baltics, Russia and Eastern Mediterranean.

Previously an Account Manager on the Trade New Zealand Export Hotline, Mr Haddrell joined Trade New Zealand as a Trade Development Executive in Madrid in 1998, covering all sectors. While working in Madrid he completed a Diploma in International Studies at La Sociedad de Altos Estudios Internacionales.

Mr Haddrell has worked in sales and marketing positions in Sweden, Italy and Spain. In New Zealand he completed a National Certificate in Business Studies (Accounting) at Otago Polytechnic, a National Certificate in Marketing at Manukau Institute of Technology, and a Diploma in Management from the New Zealand Institute of Management.

Mr Haddrell, who is fluent in English, Italian and Spanish and speaks Swedish, brings to the role an in depth knowledge of European markets, business and culture, coupled with an understanding of New Zealand’s export sectors and capabilities.

He says he looks forward to maximising Trade New Zealand’s impact on foreign exchange earnings from the region and assisting New Zealand exporters to enter and further their presence in these exciting and challenging markets.

"One of my aims is to create a greater awareness of New Zealand and increase New Zealand’s export capabilities, in turn substantially increasing New Zealand’s foreign exchange in the region."

"One factor in New Zealand’s favour is that most Italian companies are small to medium sized and family owned, meaning they can establish personal relationships with New Zealand companies relatively easily despite superficial language barriers."

Trade New Zealand has identified the agritech, apparel, education, floriculture, marine, IT and telecoms industries as areas for growth in addition to the traditional wool, leathers, meat, seafood and fruit sectors.

"Eastern Europe also offers opportunities for many New Zealand companies, especially with the accession of countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to the European Union possibly as early as 2004.

Opportunities identified in Scandinavia and the Baltics are concentrated in the biotech, IT, forestry, marine, education and agritech industries, he says.

Mr Haddrell takes up his position on May 12, replacing Charles Barkla.

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