5 NZ firms seal deals here

Five New Zealand companies made business deals in Thailand yesterday, including partnerships with Thai companies, suggesting New Zealand investors’ high confidence in this country.

Visiting Prime Minister John Key said New Zealand investors saw Thailand as a hub for expanding long-term trade and business in Asean and other rising Asian markets, despite the political conflict plaguing the Kingdom.    

“I don’t think the current political demonstrations will affect business and investment, as New Zealand investors look for long-term investment. Thailand has significant growth in Asean. Many businesses are [looking at] investing and expanding their businesses in Thailand,” Key said during an official visit to Thailand. 

His four-day mission, which began on Sunday, has brought representatives of 22 New Zealand companies to Bangkok. The mission aims to strengthen business relationships with Thailand. 

Key said the current political demonstrations were a normal activity in a democratic country. Short-term activism would not affect long-term investor confidence. 

He added that many New Zealand industries wanted to do more business in Thailand, such as those in electronics, information technology, manufacturing, food and beverage, and services. 

He said he would like to see Thailand open up more for agricultural investment. Beside the free-trade agreement between Thailand and New Zealand, he also would like to see closer cooperation for long-term trade and investment.

Key and Thai Commerce Minister Niwatthumrong Boonsongpaisan witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements between New Zealand and Thai enterprises yesterday. 

_New Zealand’s Taura Natural Ingredients and Thailand’s Joe-Ry Family Co plan to collaborate on the sale of healthy snacks.

_Thailand-based beverage producer Green Spot Co has appointed New Zealand’s multinational engineering and professional services consultancy Beca to provide full engineering design services for its new production facility.

_Orion Health will provide a development facility for Bumrungrad International. 

_Security firm Gallagher will expand its operation in Thailand to support growing needs of the Asean countries.

_Global logistics company Mainfreight announced plans to open its first Thailand office for its global air and ocean network, which provides international logistics for customers around the world. 

Sir William Gallagher, chairman and chief executive of Gallagher, said he did not think the political problems in Thailand would affect the business sector. 

“I don’t worry about short-term political problems, as they are very normal for a democratic country. What businesspeople are looking for is stability of rules and laws. Thailand has high potential to serve [investors] as one of the easy places to do business in the region,” he said.

Peter Tinholt, general manager of Taura Natural Ingredients, said he did not worry about start up business in Thailand as the company was looking for long-term investment. 

With a growing economy and expectations for its middle-class population to double, Tinholt said he foresaw a successful business after launching its healthy snack under the Fruit Bite brand here early next year.                      

Karen Campbell, New Zealand’s trade commissioner to Thailand, said her country recognised the opportunities Thailand presents as one of Southeast Asia’s largest economies. The number of companies moving into Thailand reflects the depth of New Zealand’s business relationship with the country and desire to strengthen the partnership in trade and investment.