NEW ZEALAND OFFERS RE, AGRICULTURAL EXPERTISE TO BOOST TIES WITH ASEAN -- PM LUXON

By Nor Baizura Basri

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- New Zealand is offering its expertise and transfer of knowledge to ASEAN member states, particularly in renewable energy (RE) and agriculture, to strengthen ties beyond the 50-year dialogue, said its Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Looking back at 50 years of partnership between the two, the prime minister said New Zealand still has a lot to offer the grouping, which also complements what ASEAN can offer the country.

He said that in the areas of RE and electricity, for example, New Zealand is one of the top ten countries in the world, with 85 per cent to 87 per cent of its energy coming from renewable sources.

“New Zealand did a lot of pioneering work on geothermal energy, with many Malaysians and Indonesians who came to our universities (studying the field) under the Colombo Plan.

“There was also exportation of our knowledge around geothermal energy, in particular to Malaysia,” he told BERNAMA in an exclusive interview in Auckland recently.

The interview was aired in a special programme by Bernama TV today titled “New Zealand and ASEAN At 50 Years Partnership” following the upcoming 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, which kick off next Tuesday.

Luxon also said ASEAN could learn from New Zealand’s best farming practices, attributing the country as having the most carbon-efficient and sustainable practices and farmers in the world.

He said this is especially important as ASEAN countries search for a more sustainable way in agricultural practices, as they emphasise food security moving forward.

The prime minister, who was in Kuala Lumpur for an official visit early last year, is expected to attend the summit.

ASEAN, comprising 10 member states, is currently New Zealand’s fourth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade now worth more than NZ$29 billion per year (NZ$1=RM2.41).

-- BERNAMA