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New Zealand, Qatar sign agreement on education cooperation

Xinhua, February 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

A new agreement on education between New Zealand and Qatar will enhance New Zealand's reputation in the field of "export education," Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said Wednesday.

The agreement provided for collaborative projects and activities in many areas of higher education and scientific research, technical and vocational education, Joyce said in a statement.

The two countries also agreed to encourage institutional networking, and the exchange of officials and personnel.

Export education was New Zealand's fifth largest export earner valued at 2.85 billion NZ dollars (2.11 billion U.S. dollars) and was vital to the continuing growth of both the economy and the education sector.

"It's essential that we build on the education industry's strong performance by maximizing our opportunities in the competitive international education market. Formal agreements such as this one are important contributors to New Zealand's reputation, " said Joyce.

The agreement was signed in Doha by Associate Minister of Trade Todd McClay and Qatar's Minister for Education and Higher Education, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hammadi.

McClay was currently visiting the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he was meeting with government and commercial representatives. Endi