President of the Government of New Caledonia to visit New Zealand

Mr. Philippe Germain, President of the Government of New Caledonia, will travel to New Zealand from 6th to 10th June 2016. He will lead a delegation of around thirty New Caledonian entrepreneurs and representatives of economic institutions, for a visit aimed at developing economic and political relations with New Zealand.

This trip follows the French Prime Minister, Mr. Manuel Valls’ recent visit to New Zealand on the 1st and 2nd May. Mr. Valls had invited Mr. Germain and Mr. Fritch, respectively President of the Government of New Caledonia and President of French Polynesia, to join in the official visit with the purpose of supporting the increasing integration of the French territories in the Pacific within their regional environment.

In 2016, President Germain has championed the economic diplomacy at the heart of New Caledonia’s regional policy with the aim to diversify the territory’s economy and to develop new drivers of growth (excluding nickel), in particular through the establishment of trade and partnerships.
The inclusion of New Caledonia in the programme Path to market, organised in partnership with Pacific Trade and Investment is a major step towards the facilitation of trade between New Caledonia and New Zealand. A first seminar is due to take place in Noumea later in the year.
The new air services arrangements signed by President Germain and Mr. Simon Bridges, New Zealand Minister of transport, in the presence of Mr. Manuel Valls on May 2nd, will also facilitate the transportation of goods and people between both territories. These arrangements make provisions for the increase to four weekly flight returns between Noumea and Auckland to reach five return flights by 2018.

This upcoming visit is organised around two main focuses:
- A business to business focus in Auckland on the 8th and 9th June, President Germain will present an overview of New Caledonia’s economic diplomacy, which is pivotal to the territory’s regional integration. The President’s introduction will be followed by New Caledonian entrepreneurs and representatives of economic institutions.
- A political and economic focus on Wellington on the 9th and 10th June, with meetings organised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Primary industries and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

President Germain will also be taking part in the Pacific Energy Conference on 7th June where he will present New Caledonia’s energy transition scheme.
This visit is coordinated by the Delegation of New Caledonia in New Zealand, based at the Embassy of France in Wellington.

Figures about the economic relationship:
- New Caledonia represents the 3rd export market for NZ in the Pacific (NZD 152,4M in 2015);
- New Zealand is the 8th provider of goods in New Caledonia
- New Zealand is the 2nd provider of food products in New Caledonia
- New Zealand represents the 3rd destination for outward direct investments (NZD 13,4M in 2015).

Services trade between both territories relates mostly to tourism and transport:
- New Zealand represents the 3rd touristic destination for Caledonian residents;
- New Zealand represents the 2nd country of cruise passengers’ provenance in New Caledonia.

ENDS

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