New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates will begin negotiations over a free trade agreement, the Pacific nation's trade minister said on Monday.
Todd McClay
New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates will begin negotiations over a free trade agreement, the Pacific nation's trade minister said on Monday.
Trade Minister Todd McClay met his UAE counterpart in Dubai to announce the start of talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, according to a statement from his office on Tuesday.
"The UAE is an important bilateral partner for New Zealand, and today’s launch of negotiations is an exciting step towards growing our significant trade and economic relationship," he said.
The UAE is New Zealand's largest trade partner in the Middle East and exports hit NZ$1.02 billion ($613 million) in the year to September 2023, up 17% from the year before, according to New Zealand foreign ministry data.
New Zealand is also in talks for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional body of six whose members include the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
McClay said he discussed the talks on his visit to Saudi Arabia last week.
A free trade deal with the European Union came into effect on May 1 after New Zealand ratified the deal in March.
($1 = 1.6633 New Zealand dollars)
Reporting by Lewis Jackson
Ali Rashid Al Mazrouei, the newly appointed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Libya, presented a copy of his credentials to El-Taher El-Baour, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during an official ceremony at the Ministry’s headquarters in Tripoli.
Taiwan and Israel have signed two agreements aimed at deepening cooperation on intellectual property protection and expediting patent examinations, as both economies seek to strengthen technological collaboration amid shifting global supply-chain dynamics.
Low-cost carrier Flydubai announced on Tuesday a landmark order for 150 Airbus A321neo aircraft, surpassing the size of its current fleet and marking the airline’s first-ever purchase from the European manufacturer.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.