WELLINGTON, 3rd May, 2023 (WAM) — Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, visited New Zealand from 1st to 2nd May to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the economic, trade, and cultural fields.
During the visit, she met with Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand; Damien O'Connor, Minister of Commerce; and James Shaw, Minister of Climate Change, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations and develop investment and economic opportunities between the two countries.
Al Hashemy expressed her hope for New Zealand’s high-level participation in the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which is scheduled to be held in Expo City Dubai in November.
During the visit, Reem Al Hashemy held a meeting with Jenny Salesa, Assistant Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade, to discuss a number of issues of common interest such as trade and cultural cooperation.
She also met with New Zealand businesspeople in the food, sustainability, and innovation sectors to discuss ways to enhance trade cooperation between the two countries, especially in light of the UAE’s signing of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with India, Indonesia, Israel, and Turkey, emphasizing the importance of the private sector in enhancing economic cooperation between the UAE and New Zealand.
Al Hashemy remarked that bilateral cooperation between the two countries includes a number of vital areas, such as agriculture, renewable energy, and health, underscoring the UAE's commitment to strengthening cooperation with New Zealand in all fields, especially with regard to companies with expertise in the fields of technology and innovation.
She commended the New Zealand community in the UAE, which includes approximately 3,500 people, expressing her appreciation for its contributions.
For their part, New Zealand officials underlined their appreciation and gratitude to Emirates Airline and the role it plays in connecting their companies and people with the world through 7 weekly flights.
At the end of the visit, Mahutaheld held a dinner banquet dedicated to Reem Al Hashimy and the accompanying delegation.