NZ trade delegation hopes for more successful Mideast trip

Trade Minister Tim Groser. Photo / APN

A New Zealand trade delegation is preparing to go the Middle East after a rocky trip to the region last year but will cancel this year's mission if the security situation worsens.

The Middle East Business Council will make a decision next month on whether to go on the trip of 10 to 12 days taking in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Protests sweeping the region have rattled Saudi rulers during the past month and in Bahrain last week led to the use of force to crush pro-democracy demonstrations.

"At around about April 14 there will be a go/no-go decision made on particular places, depending very much on perceived safety issues," said business council chairman Michael Vukcevic.

A group of between 30 to 40 businesses had expressed an interest in the mission from sectors including dairy (including Fonterra), pharmaceuticals, education, tourism, bio-tech, venture capital and food and beverage.

The aim was to showcase the "best of NZ Inc" and to form relationships with chambers of commerce, which are important to doing business in the region.

"The chamber network is very different to how it's done here. We're hoping to develop some new relationships both in the private sector and the public sector in the Middle East."

These countries have grown in importance to New Zealand. Two-way merchandise trade to the Gulf Cooperation Council including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE (which also includes Oman and Qatar) is valued at about $3 billion.

Vukcevic was not on last year's mission which was hit by the late withdrawal of Prime Minister John Key who pulled out after the Anzac Day Air Force helicopter tragedy.

This threw the programme into disarray. Trade Minister Tim Groser was left to lead the delegation but during that time his mother died.

He was ticked off by Key after rowdy drinking and disruptive behaviour by him and some members of the mission on the flight home.

"It's no secret that with that delegation a bunch of things could have run better," Vukcevic said.

"I don't want to reiterate what happened - a whole bunch of things had to be reorganised and the dynamics changed a few things weren't handled the way they should have been handled. Even basic logistics didn't happen the way they should have."

Vukcevic said the council had requested ministerial presence this year but said the Government was extremely busy in what was an election year.

"Ideally we'd like to get a minister along, if not maybe next time."