Greeks to hear a high-tech bleat

By GREG ANSLEY Canberra bureau chief

New Zealand will rebrand itself in Greece as a source of technology and wants to work with the Greek Government to help sway European regulators in Brussels.

New Zealand's diplomatic and trade efforts in Athens are now driven from Italy and Prime Minister Helen Clark made it clear during her recent visit that no funds were available to reopen the embassy closed in 1991, even though Greece is regarded as a potentially rich market.

Despite this the aim will be to reposition New Zealand as a niche supplier of sophisticated high-tech products, moving beyond the sheepmeat that has dominated exports.

At the same time, Wellington will work with Greece in Brussels on issues of common concern, focusing initially on opposing new visa proposals that will significantly restrict New Zealanders' freedom of travel in Europe.

Both Helen Clark and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis placed considerable importance on person-to-person ties in their talks in Athens, reaching agreement on a new working holiday arrangement that will allow young Kiwis to stay and work in Greece for up to nine months.

Memories of New Zealand's costly defence of Greece in the Second World War, remembered in last month's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, have given Wellington strong leverage in Athens.

Kiwi interests in Greece are also pushed heavily by the New Zealand-Hellenic Association, representing a local community of about 400 expatriate Kiwis and New Zealand-born Greeks.

Athens traditionally takes a close interest in maintaining links to expatriate Greek communities, with the ties to the 4000 living in New Zealand raised by Mr Simitis during his talks with Helen Clark.

A scheme financed by the ruling Pan Hellenic Socialist Movement Government gives grants for cultural and family visits to Greece by New Zealand children of Greek ancestry.

Wellington wants to use such emotional bonds and existing sales to lift the size and diversity of exports to Greece and to create a gateway to New Zealand participation in the reconstruction of the war-devastated Balkans.

New Zealand runs a huge trade surplus with Greece: exports of $67 million last year against imports of just $12.4 million, largely farm produce, aluminium foil and steel.

Greece takes mostly sheepmeat and rising quantities of seafood.

But Wellington now wants New Zealand to be seen as a First World provider of sophisticated technology.

This approach has already gained a toehold through West Auckland company Glidepath supplying the baggage-handling system at Athens' new Sparta International Airport.

Trade officials are now promoting the accreditation system developed for the Auckland Apec summit and the imagery created for the America's Cup, and other niche television products, for use during the Olympic Games in Athens.

NZ Post is also pursuing a Balkans alliance with Hellenic Post, and there is the potential of infrastructure contracts for other Kiwi companies.