A SUCCESSFUL VIP visit looks likely to strengthen local business links with New Zealand.

His Excellency John Collinge, High Commissioner for New Zealand, spent two days in Bolton and Bury at the invitation of Bolton Bury Training and Enterprise Council.

Mr Collinge, who believes all his ancestors come from within a 15-mile radius of Rochdale, told local business people at a dinner in Bolton town hall that he was impressed with what he had seen.

His tour around town in a black Mercedes with the registration number NZ 1 included a visit to the site of the new Bolton Wanderers complex at Horwich and the Excel sports centre at Bolton College in Manchester Road.

But he identified one of Bolton's greatest problems when he said he would look forward to seeing how the "vibrant, re-developing town" sold itself to the world outside. Mr Collinge's visit followed a personal invitation from Graham Farrell, BBTEC's Director of Marketing.

Mr Farrell, who was previously Deputy Managing Director at ENS Group Ltd in Liverpool, met Mr Collinge at a function at the House of Lords during his three years with the company.

"I met him again at a function in London a couple of weeks ago and asked him to come and see what Bolton and Bury had to offer," Mr Farrell said.

"He accepted."

Mr Farrell said it had already been agreed that members of the New Zealand trade commission would make a follow-up visit which would include addressing the local Export Club.

"The idea is to promote trade," said Mr Farrell, who said he hoped Mr Collinge's visit would be the first of many similar events.

Mr Collinge's day in Bolton included afternoon tea in the Mayor's Parlour with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr Eric Johnson and Mrs Johnson..

The dinner in the evening, which was attended by 75 leading businessmen and women, included speeches from Mr Tony Rink, Chairman of BBTEC and Mr Peter Weidenbaum, President of Bolton & Bury Chamber of Commerce. Mr Rink paid tribute to the spirit of partnership involving the town council and private sector organisations. Mr Weidenbaum, Managing Director of Trumeter at Radcliffe, said he had been doing business in New Zealand for the last three years.

"I see a tremendous potential for Bolton and Bury companies to develop further trade links," he said.

There was more red carpet treatment for Mr Collinge on Friday when he toured Bury and met local VIPs for lunch at Bury Town Hall.

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