New Zealand set to wow international geothermal community
Seventeen New Zealand companies will feature in a pavilion at the WGC with Minister Bridges being a key-note speaker
New Zealand is set to have a high-profile presence at the upcoming World Geothermal Congress 2015, with NZ Minister of Energy and Resources, Simon Bridges, leading a 200–plus contingent.
Seventeen New Zealand companies will feature in a pavilion about three-times larger than any of the other country pavilions, making it the biggest stand at the congress exhibition.
“It represents the full spectrum of New Zealand’s geothermal industry: research and development, exploration and design, construction and operations right through to maintenance, monitoring and training,” says the NZ Trade Commissioner to Australia, Stephen Blair.
Minister Bridges is a key-note speaker at the opening ceremonies and will also speak at an invite-only networking lunch that will give key contacts and guests of government the opportunity to meet leading New Zealand geothermal experts.
Other highlights of New Zealand’s contribution to the Congress include a showcase event, featuring Mike Allen, the Government’s special envoy on energy, a performance from a Maori cultural delegation and a video outlining New Zealand’s geothermal story
While many New Zealand companies attended the last Congress in Bali five years ago, there was a feeling the industry had “missed an opportunity” by not making a more coordinated effort,
“That won’t happen again. There are few geothermal developments in the world where NZ expertise has not played some part, and we want to share our experiences with others at this Congress. To do so we have joined up across ‘NZ Inc’ to showcase our world-class expertise and services.”
The New Zealand presence is being coordinated by the government’s economic development agency, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, working in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GNS Science and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
New Zealand is co-hosting the Congress with Australia. The programme includes field trips in both countries, and in New Zealand a short course on the regulatory framework there and use of geothermal resources. A dinner hosted by Maori Development Minister Tuaroa Flavell in Rotorua will conclude the event.
Source: NZ Trade & Enterprise