New Zealand Economic Mission Due in Tehran

An economic delegation led by New Zealand’s Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy is scheduled to arrive in Tehran on Saturday to scope out trade opportunities in agriculture and dairy industries, Iran’s ambassador to New Zealand, Jalaledin Namini Mianji, announced.  The delegation includes, among others, the representative of Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world’s largest dairy exporter.  “Iran’s butter imports from Fonterra once reached $150 million a year, making it the biggest customer of the company. Encouraging the company to invest in northern Iranian provinces like Golestan has been pursued by the Iranian Embassy in Wellington,” IRNA quoted Mianji as saying.  Fonterra is the owner of a significant portfolio of brands in Asia Pacific and a partner of the world’s leading food companies. The company accounts for approximately 30% of the world’s dairy exports.  In December 2016, New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay and his accompanying 30-strong trade delegation visited Tehran following the lifting of nuclear sanctions against the country. The visit was the country’s first trade mission to Tehran in 12 years.