NZ and Malaysia set to announce trade agreement - newspaper

Malaysia and New Zealand will later today announce a free trade agreement that will open the doors to greater market access and lower prices on both sides, a Malaysian newspaper, the New Straits Times reports.

Malaysia's High Commissioner in Wellington, Datuk Sofian Ahmad said his country's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark were expected to make the announcement after meeting today.

Mr Sofian said the agreement would help enhance bilateral trade, boosting Malaysia's current position as New Zealand's largest trading partner in Asean and 10th largest worldwide.

New Zealand is Malaysia's 27th-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade last year marginally in Malaysia's favour. He said the trade talks would lead to halal beef, lamb and chicken being flown into Kuala Lumpur from New Zealand.

- NZPA