New Zealand seeks to build food, agribusiness links to Gulf states

New Zealand Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will visit three of the country's main export markets in the Middle East next week in a bid to drum up new trade in agribusiness and food.

The visits to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates were part of a strategy for build stronger trade and economic relationships with nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Guy said in a statement Friday.

"In 2013, New Zealand exported 1.6 billion NZ dollars (1.34 billion U.S. dollars) of primary products to these three markets, and our agricultural expertise is in strong demand as states in the region look to improve their food security," Guy said.

In the United Arab Emirates, Guy would discuss a joint project in environmental management, and in Saudi Arabia he would meet with his counterpart and visit a New Zealand agribusiness service hub and demonstration farm currently under development near Dammam.

In Oman, Guy would meet both the agriculture and foreign affairs ministers to discuss increasing trade and agricultural linkages.

The visits would help New Zealand "become a partner of choice," he said.

"It will also be an opportunity to discuss how we can work with the states of the region in areas where we have particular expertise, such as agriculture, fisheries and environmental management," said Guy.