Potential For Forging Agriculture Links With Japan
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Hon. Dr Lockwood Smith
MEDIA STATEMENT
24 April 2009
Potential For Forging Agriculture Links With Japan
New Zealand grassland technology could be a catalyst for enhancing links with the Japanese agriculture industry, the Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Hon. Dr Lockwood Smith says.
The Speaker's delegation is currently in Hokkaido, the agricultural heartland of Japan, where Dr Smith met with senior political and business leaders including the Chairman of the Sapporo Chamber of Commerce, Mr Iwao Takamuki.
“Agriculture is very closely protected but there are encouraging signs of new opportunities for New Zealand and Japan to work together.
“The area of low cost production and high quality processing of pastoral-based products holds particular interest. Japanese farmers are confronted with rising costs for imported feed grains providing scope for the agricultural industry in Hokkaido to benefit from New Zealand's grassland technology.”
He said tourism was another area where Hokkaido and New Zealand have shared opportunities with particular interest in New Zealand's development of interactive adventure tourism.
The Speaker's delegation will visit forestry and beef farming interests in Hokkaido before attending an ANZAC Day ceremony in Yokohama on Saturday.
ENDS