A New Zealand consultancy firm has found a lucrative niche taking Kiwi intellectual property to the Middle East.
Wellington-based Maven won its first contract in the region last year, leading a consortium of local education providers on a 12-month review of Oman's primary and secondary education systems.
The firm has an office in Muscat, Oman's capital, and services the Persian Gulf from there.
Chris Knol, Maven's international business development director, said the company was also working with crown research institute Environmental Science and Research on a forensics project for the Dubai Police.
Knol said it was not a market for the faint hearted and firms needed to be well-capitalised to take it on.
"It requires sustained investment and don't expect returns in less than three years."
Focus on the Middle East
This week the Business Herald looks at doing business in the Middle East. Christopher Adams has been in Dubai and Egypt talking to people about their work. He travelled with assistance from NZTE and BurgerFuel.