New Zealand Ambassador to the Kingdom Hamish MacMaster said that Saudi Arabia will open its embassy in Wellington late this year. The establishment of the embassy will be a major move toward strengthening the ties between the Kingdom and New Zealand, the ambassador told newsmen.

“At present, we have a Saudi consulate general’s office in Auckland and the new embassy would further enhance the services of the Saudi government in New Zealand,” he said, adding that the Saudi government has already expressed its readiness to set up the embassy soon.

The envoy was talking to reporters during the introduction of a new line of chilled lamb and beef products to Saudi Arabia by Silver Fern Farms, a leading New Zealand processor, marketer and exporter of premium quality red meat products in partnership with Almunajem, its local distributor in the Kingdom.

MacMaster said the two countries have a strong food security partnership. The bilateral trade last year was around 1.5 billion New Zealand dollars, while the country’s exports to Saudi Arabia was 600,000 dollars and its imports were valued at 900,000 dollars. “We export dairy products and high quality meat products while we import energy and petrochemical products from the Kingdom,” he added.

He also pointed out that his country hosts 5,000 Saudi students who are studying at various universities and colleges. Some of them live with their families.

They study at various universities in New Zealand including Auckland University, Auckland University of Technology, Massey University, Waikato University, Victoria University and Otago University.

“We provide them with not only a safe environment but also an atmosphere conducive to the pursuit of their education,” he said.

Besides these developments, there has been regular exchange of high-level visits between the two countries. Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqary was in Auckland recently to open the Saudi Cultural Center in New Zealand. Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim also visited News Zealand recently. The foreign minister and agriculture minister of New Zealand also visited the Kingdom in the recent past.

Last month, Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari inaugurated the headquarters of the new Saudi cultural mission in Auckland.

During a presentation, Sharon Angus, chief of marketing at Silver Fern Farms, said the company brings New Zealand’s finest halal beef and lamb to the people of Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia has predominantly been a frozen market and our frozen business with Almunajem has grown strongly over a long period. We are very excited to see our partnership now diversify into the higher value chilled segment, in response to Saudi Arabian consumers telling us they want a fresher, more premium red meat option."