Saudi Arabia's Minister of Agriculture paid a flying visit to Hawke's Bay yesterday, brought to the region by businessman George Assaf of Awassi Ltd, a Tikokino breeding stud of Awassi sheep.
Visiting New Zealand for a week, his excellency Dr Fahd bin Abdulrahman bin Sulaiman Balghunaim accepted an invitation to visit
the Bay and was greeted by about 100 of Hawke's Bay farming leaders, politicians and business people, and given a tour of the district's farming enterprises.
His excellency flew to the Bay with his delegation and was treated to a helicopter flight over the region, before landing at the Smedley Rd stud for lunch.
In his first visit to New Zealand, Dr Fahd bin Abdulrahman bin Sulaiman Balghunaim said he was here to boost the Saudi Arabia and New Zealand trade relationship. "The relationship is really excellent," he said. "We want to build on that."
In 2003 live exports to Saudi Arabia of awassi sheep bred in New Zealand were halted amid concerns about the welfare of the animals.
The minister said it would be good to see those exports reintroduced.
As for the beauty of Hawke's Bay witnessed from the helicopter, he was blown away.
"I can't describe it, especially the coast."
