Uruguayan president to visit NZ

Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez will make his first visit to New Zealand in mid-November.

Dr Vazquez and Finance Minister Danilo Astori are expected to meet Prime Minister Helen Clark on November 12.

They will visit Lincoln University on November 13.

The following day, Dr Vazquez will address a Wellington business meeting on the Uruguayan economy and the existing and potential trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Trade Minister Phil Goff has recently visited Uruguay.

Dr Vazquez will be accompanied by other Uruguayan cabinet ministers and a business delegation.

Latin America NZ Business Council executive director Fergus McLean said New Zealand had helped develop Uruguay's pastoral industries in the past 30 years, and a substantive trade in the agritech area and other sectors had since built up.

The recent establishment of NZ Farming Systems Uruguay Ltd highlighted the growing commerce between the two countries, Mr McLean said.

- NZPA