RIYADH, 20 March 2006 — Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani, minister of commerce & industry, will co-chair the joint ministerial commission meeting with the visiting New Zealand Minister of Trade and Defense Phil Goff here today. Goff, accompanied by several high-ranking officials and businessmen from Wellington, arrived yesterday on a three-day official visit.
Jim Howell, New Zealand’s ambassador to the Kingdom, said “A range of bilateral subjects dealing with economic cooperation will figure prominently on the agenda of this second ministerial meeting.”
The two sides are to review the growing trade relations and discuss the scope for improved cooperation in new areas to be identified, he said. Riyadh, he said, was an “important partner for New Zealand in the Middle East and our trade relationship is very strong. “The total exports from New Zealand to Saudi Arabia exceeded $247 million last year, whereas it imported $200 million worth of products from the Kingdom.
Goff yesterday held wide-ranging talks with the Saudi minister of agriculture in which they discussed the possibility of further cooperation in agriculture sector, especially in livestock and dairy industry. The two countries have also forged closer cooperation in education sector.
