Vietnam and New Zealand further weather intelligence co-operation

Grant Robertson, New Zealand’s Minister of Finance and Minister of Sport and Recreation, witnessed the signing of an MoU between the Meteorological Service of New Zealand (MetService, trading as MetraWeather) and the Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Technology Applications under the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration. The Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh also joined the signing ceremony.

Vietnam and New Zealand have inked an MoU on weather intelligence co-operation

The MoU provides a foundation for both sides to work more closely on providing timely weather-related information for broadcasting and online applications in Vietnam, ensuring rapid updates and timely warnings. This partnership will bring MetraWeather’s state-of-the-art Weatherscape XT solution to local broadcasters in Vietnam and provide more accurate forecasting and severe weather warning information.

“MetraWeather has always recognised the importance of the accurate and timely presentation of weather and environmental information. This is at the heart of our philosophy and we feel privileged to have been selected by the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration to contribute to the realisation of this vision,” said Thomas Sutherland, MetraWeather's general manager in Asia.

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Wendy Matthews stated that this partnership is a great example of the practical application of New Zealand's growing and dynamic high-technology sector.

“I look forward to seeing the benefits that New Zealand’s innovative weather information technology will provide to key sectors in Vietnam including the agriculture, marine, and aviation sectors,” she stated.

“New Zealanders have a long tradition of mixing creative innovation with practical solutions. I am pleased that advanced hi-tech products and services are now playing a constructive role in the deepening the New Zealand-Vietnam bilateral relationship,” she continued. “Technology is now New Zealand’s third-largest export sector, growing by 11 per cent in the last year to a value of more than NZ$1.1 billion ($697 million).”

Vietnam-New Zealand trade has grown strongly in recent years, with bilateral trade more than tripling since 2009, when the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement was signed.