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BY JACK WONG IN KUCHING

THE NZ Centre in Kuching is working towards establishing business and trade ventures between Sarawak and New Zealand, according to its managing director Rodger Chan Siong Boh.

He said the centre was the secretariat for a new start-up company, THF Resources Sdn Bhd, which was in the midst of forming a joint venture with Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology in New Zealand.

"The centre is promoting New Zealand to leading Sarawakian businessmen as a highly attractive destination for investment.

"Likewise, we hope New Zealand companies and organisations will use the centre as their offshore marketing base among potential customers in Sarawak," he said at the opening of the NZ Centre yesterday.

New Zealand Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton signed a plaque to mark the opening of the centre. Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam and acting New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia David Pine were among those present.

Rodger said the centre represented all universities in New Zealand and an increasing number of educational institutions and schools there.

In his speech, Dr Chan said bilateral trade between Malaysia and New Zealand was worth RM2.42bil last year.

"Malaysia is New Zealand's 8th largest trading partner, 12th largest export market and 6th largest source of imports."

He said Malaysia's exports to New Zealand had grown rapidly over the years and the exported goods included petroleum products, electrical and electronic products, machinery, vegetable oils and rubber.

New Zealand sells mostly agricultural-related products to Malaysia.