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Queensland Trade Minister meets with New Zealand ministers
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
12/03/2010
Queensland Trade Minister meets with New Zealand ministers
New Zealand: Trade Minister Stephen Robertson has met with key New Zealand Government Ministers as part of his trade visit to country this week 10 - 12 March.
Mr Robertson used the meetings to develop stronger partnerships between the Queensland and New Zealand Governments and to explore opportunities to increase two-way trade relations and Trans Tasman investment.
"New Zealand and Queensland have an extremely positive trade relationship with more than $2 billion in two-way merchandise trade in 2008-09," Mr Robertson said.
"Specifically merchandise exports to New Zealand were valued at $892m - which represents an increase of more than $100m from 2003/04.
"This is great news, but clearly we want to do even better."
Mr Robertson said Queensland and New Zealand's biotechnology industries were reaching a world-class level which presented mutually beneficial opportunities for both regions.
"Queensland is making leaps and bounds in biotechnology research and engineering and these potential opportunities were discussed New Zealand's Minister for Research, Science and Technology, the Honourable Wayne Mapp," Mr Robertson said.
Clean technologies and renewable energy were the key focus of Minister Robertson's meeting with New Zealand's Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Energy and Resources, the Honourable Gerry Brownlee.
"This meeting assisted in strengthening our existing relationship in clean technologies and renewable energy," Mr Robertson said.
"As Energy Minister I know Queensland has been exploring new approaches in geothermal and wind technologies and there is scope for Queensland and New Zealand to share expertise in this area.
Mr Robertson also met with the Honourable Tim Groser, New Zealand's Minister for Trade, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Associate Minister of Climate Change Issues.
"Minister Groser and I discussed the current challenges facing New Zealand's exporters, and explored collaborative opportunities to overcome these hurdles," Mr Robertson said.
"Queensland has a range of globally competitive industry strengths, and I sought Minister Groser's views on how we can develop stronger links under our Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement."
Minister Robertson concludes his visit today.
Permanent Link: Queensland Trade Minister meets with New Zealand ministers
Publish Date: 12 Mar 10
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