New Zealand – visit of Olivier Becht (05-08.03.23)

Mr Olivier Becht, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs responsible for Foreign Trade, Attraction and French Residents Abroad, will visit New Zealand from 5-8 March.

On the occasion, he will meet with Mr Damien O’Connor, Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Regional Mapping, Trade and Exports and Ms Nana Mahuta, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Disarmament and Arms Control and Maori Development to discuss strengthening our bilateral economic relations. As an important trading partner of New Zealand, France maintains close economic cooperation with this country, which can be further strengthened from the perspective of the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.

The regional integration of our overseas communities is one of the priorities of France’s Indo-Pacific strategy, and the Minister Delegate will support the emergence of new partnerships between New Zealand and French companies, particularly French companies abroad. He will thus inaugurate the French-Pacific Business Forum alongside his New Zealand counterpart, Mr. Reno Tercatini.

Mr Becht will also meet many of the key economic players in our relationship with New Zealand: representatives of French companies, French researchers and members of the French New Zealand Chamber of Commerce. He will also meet with the Mayor of Wellington, Dame Tore Wannau, and discuss the presence of French companies in the territory, as well as the city’s transport needs.

Finally, the Minister Delegate will meet with the French communities in Auckland and Wellington.