New Zealand’s Honorary Trade Advisor (HTA) talks to Horizon Thailand about his role in fostering links between his country and Thailand.

Can you explain what your role as a HTA entails?
Given that DITP does not have a trade office in New Zealand my chief role is to assist the Thai Trade Centre office in Sydney to facilitate linkages between Thai exporters and importers in New Zealand. An example of this was a trade seminar organised earlier last year when the Thai PM visited New Zealand in March 2013 and I assisted to get New Zealand importers to attend the event.

How did you become a HTA?
I was appointed on the nomination of the then Thai Trade Commissioner in Sydney whose office also encapsulates New Zealand in 2007. However, my initial rapport with Thailand happened in the early 1990s when I visited Thailand three times at the invitation of DEP (now DITP) for a series of trade seminars. Thailand is unique in having this trade advisory service as I am unaware of any other country that follows a similar practice

What work do you undertake to improve trade relations between Thailand and New Zealand?
The Thai and New Zealand prime ministers have agreed to double bilateral trade levels between 2013 and 2020 and I have suggested to DITP that in 2014 they should instigate a review of current trade levels, the likely trends over the next six years and specific programmes that could be developed to achieve the prime ministerial objectives.

What specific activities will you be involved with in 2014?
I have offered to visit Bangkok or Sydney to discuss my suggestion for a forward six-year work programme to expand trade between Thailand and New Zealand if DITP funding can be made available.

What is the main attraction of Thai goods to New Zealand?
I see Thailand primarily as a producer of quality merchandise and it is this market niche that I think works in its favour in developed economies such as Australia and New Zealand, whether it be for Thai Silk or quality food products.

New Zealand's main exports to Thailand are agricultural products, with auto-parts and machinery going the other way, do you see this trend continuing?
These are clearly the leading commodities currently traded between the two countries and will probably remain so for the next few years. However, I think future trading patterns between the two countries for consumer goods will be dominated by high end rather than cheaper forms of merchandise

How do you see this partnership developing over the next few years?
Very positively given my comments above. The trading relationship is also assisted by groups such as the New Zealand Thai Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok and the Thai Chapter of the ASEAN Business Council in New Zealand

Each year 3,000 Thais study in New Zealand, how important are education and scholarship programmes between the two nations?
Both issues are extremely important. New Zealand and Thailand have had strong ties for many years in the education field and this rapport will likely continue over the next decade and beyond.