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- President Thein Sein heads for historic US visit
- Political change and President Thein Sein’s White House visit
- KNU to take part in election if perpetual peace achieved by 2015
- International outlooks on Thein Sein’s White House visit
- President Thein Sein to speak at Johns Hopkins University
- President Thein Sein to meet RCSS/SSA officials
- Maungdaw authorities restrict Bengalis' polygamy, birth rates
- KNU vows to seek genuine federalism
New Zealand declares $5.71m in aid to Myanmar
Published on Monday, 26 November 2012 06:03
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key calls on President Thein Sein. (Photo-EMG)
New Zealand has announced US$5.71 million (NZ$7 million) in aid to Myanmar.
The announcement came after a meeting between New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and President Thein Sein in Nay Pyi Taw on November 22.
A delegation led by Prime Minister John Key paid a visit to Myanmar on November 22 and called on the president at the Presidential House in Nay Pyi Taw.
Both sides discussed the opening of a new diplomatic chapter by reviewing diplomatic relations between the two countries, Myanmar’s human resources development and mutual cooperation in various sectors.
John Key offered economic cooperation as a partner country of Asean.
New Zealand will also invest NZ$6 million in Myanmar’s dairy industry within the next five years.
It will also provide NZ$1 million for the conflict-hit Rakhine State.
During the meeting, John Key said New Zealand would extend a helping hand to Myanmar for its reintegration into the international community. The country will open an embassy in Myanmar as an important step towards bilateral diplomatic relations, he added.
Business people from New Zealand are keen to invest in Myanmar and a famous dairy company, Fonterra, has appointed a manager for its outlet in Myanmar on November 21.
Grant Thornton, financial adviser to New Zealand, issued a report on November 21 saying that Fonterra, and Beca – a New Zealand-based advisory engineering company – will come to Myanmar as forerunners.
The report also included Myanmar in the list of 10 countries with potential for economic development.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully expressed his willingness to render assistance to Myanmar’s commerce and trade during a meeting with his Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin on a visit to New Zealand in October.