The World Expo being hosted in Dubai in 2020 will feature the best of New Zealand products and services, and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc chairman Ngahiwi is working on Hawke's Bay having a strong presence.
In this year's Budget, the Government committed $53.3 million over the next four years to design, construct, operate and promote a New Zealand pavilion that would showcase Kiwi products and open doors to new export markets.
Mr Tomoana has been in discussions with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the past two years, keen to have the iwi and the region feature in a strong position in the pavilion.
He has visited Dubai twice over the past 18 months building contacts with supermarkets, retailers, wholesalers and within the IT industry.
On top of that, yesterday he hosted United Arab Emirates (UAE) New Zealand ambassador Saleh Ahmad Alsuwaidi for a tour of some of the region's Ngati Kahungunu and other businesses.