New Zealand’s Minister visits Vietnam

According to the statement from New Zealand embassy to Vietnam, Joyce’s visit to Ho Chi Minh City will explore opportunities for enhancing trade, investment, and education links between the two countries, which have grown strongly in recent years.  

Vietnam is now New Zealand’s 20th largest trading partner, with potential for further significant expansion.  Two-way trade grew by 21 per cent in 2013 to $785 million, and the bilateral trade target of $1 billion by 2015 is now within reach.   

As tariffs and other impediments to trade are gradually reduced under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) in place since 2010, as well as the Double Taxation Agreement which will enter into force next month, New Zealand expects to see increased interest from the business communities of both countries in each other’s markets.     

Further more, the ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal, expected to conclude during 2014, will further increase the trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.   “New Zealand is a logical and committed partner for Vietnam across a range of sectors where New Zealand is known globally for its expertise - including food and beverage, education, aviation, agribusiness and forestry, and tourism,” said New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam H.E. Haike Manning.    

“In education especially we see real opportunities to partner with Vietnam in the development and delivery of high quality education to Vietnamese students.  Minister Joyce’s visit will provide an opportunity to discuss these partnerships further,” Manning said in the statement. 

New Zealand and Vietnam enjoy strong education ties, which have grown considerably over the years through several initiatives including New Zealand’s post-graduate scholarships awards for Vietnamese students and English Language Training for Officials (ELTO).   

New Zealand is now a popular destination for self-funded Vietnamese students, with over 2000 choosing New Zealand as an education destination each year.  Several New Zealand universities are also partnering with universities in Vietnam to offer high quality qualifications to students in Vietnam.  

During his time in Ho Chi Minh City, Joyce will meet with Ho Chi Minh City chairman Le Hoang Quan, to discuss New Zealand's key interests in the trade and economic relationship, and the important role of the New Zealand business community in Ho Chi Minh City in fostering that relationship.   

Minister Joyce will also hold meetings with a range of top Vietnamese business leaders, as well as the New Zealand business community in Ho Chi Minh City. He will also be meeting with education institutions and agents to highlight New Zealand as a destination for high quality study, as well as to profile successful education partnerships that exist between New Zealand universities and their Vietnamese partners, and look for ways to further develop these partnerships.