New Zealand Trade Minister heads to North Africa

Posted on: January 14, 2008

Written by Select Property

New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff will be visiting Morocco for a 10 day tour of North Africa, during which he will visit Algeria, Libya and Morocco. This will be the first visit to the region by a senior New Zealand minister for nearly a decade.

The aim of the visit is to meet with ministerial counterparts and business leaders in each country and will be accompanied by New Zealand business representatives.

"North Africa is a region that represents significant potential economic opportunity for New Zealand. Although from a small base, New Zealand's trade with Algeria, Libya and Morocco has grown impressively over the last few years," Goff said. "In the year to June 2007, New Zealand's exports to these three markets totalled over $255 million – a more than 50% increase since 2005," he added.

"Agriculture, particularly dairy, currently dominates New Zealand's trade profile with these countries, with Algeria of particular importance as one of Fonterra's leading markets in the wider Middle East and Africa region," Goff said.

Morocco Property News