KUCHING - New Zealand is keen to forge co-operation and enhance business ties with Sarawak in various industries and sectors, said its Trade Negotiations and Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton yesterday.

Among the business sectors and activities that New Zealand and the State could work together in, he said, were education, agriculture, food processing, forest-products processing and tourism.

He added that other potential areas of co-operation that could be looked include academic fields, management in parks, natural resources and forestry.

"We have much that we can learn from you. And we have our own particular skills and technology we developed that are applicable here and furthermore, we have a very good relationship," said Sutton.

Sutton was speaking to journalists after the official opening of New Zealand Centre at Jalan Urama here yesterday. Also present were Acting New Zealand High Commissioner David Pine and Managing Director of New Zealand Centre Rodger Chan.

Commenting on the tourism sector, Sutton said some New Zealanders had been involved in drafting the Sarawak's strategic plan for tourism.

"If we work together, we can create a menu of first class tourism opportunities and experiences in our region. We can mix and match and put together a superb holiday experi­ence (for tourists)," said Sutton.

On the high tariff level imposed on wood and wood based products from New Zealand and Malaysia, Sutton said: "The WTO is our best opportunity to correct this problem."