Lamb export hopes after Iran meeting

A historic meeting between New Zealand's Trade Minister and the President of Iran last Thursday could reopen a lucrative export market, especially for New Zealand lamb.

Jim Sutton signed off a memorandum of understanding with Ali Mohammed Khatami in Tehran.

It will mean more secure access to Iran for New Zealand's primary products, including meat, dairy products, fish, wool, skins and hides.

It was the first visit to Iran by a New Zealand trade minister for three years. Sutton also visited Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Although the agreement was first signed by the Ministry of Agriculture in October 2001, the latest development is seen by the meat industry as significant.

Meat Industry Association of New Zealand executive director Brian Lynch said Sutton's visit was a positive step.

Although the Iranian market was unlikely to reopen overnight, it was potentially worth tens of millions of dollars in lamb exports alone. "Iran was the pre-eminent destination for lamb during the 80s," said Lynch.

"It's unquestionably regarded as a market of great potential for us ...

"The minister's visit has reinforced New Zealand's position to re-enter that market."

During the 1980s New Zealand exported up to 152,000 tonnes of sheep meat a year to Iran, but it fell away sharply after the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s and the Gulf War in 1991.

- NZPA