High-level visits --- You are right, Aung, especially as a high-lvel Minister can be a key to unlocking access for business visitors to influential figures in the host country. I remember that during the London 2012 Olympics, the Kenyan mission hosted a commercial promotion event and invited their long-distance runners as guests of honour which ensured heavy interest and attendance. But it is worth remembering that visits should be part of a longer-term strategy of building relationships and not a on-off event. One must keep up momentum.

Source author: Liz Galvez LizG@diplomacy.edu