Malaysia Free Trade Agreement a Boost to Export Education
Education New Zealand: Media Release 02/06/09
The successful conclusion of Free Trade discussions between New Zealand and Malaysia will have more students from that
country studying with New Zealand institutions.
“Malaysia is an important source of international students in New Zealand. At the moment we have over 2,200 Malaysians
studying here and the agreement just announced will undoubtedly lead to further growth,” says Education New Zealand’s
Chief Executive Officer Robert Stevens.
Malaysia is currently the 10th largest source country for international students in New Zealand. Most of those students
are enrolled in university programmes.
“Trade Minister Tim Groser has given Education New Zealand a confidential briefing about the implications of the
Agreement for the trade in education services, and we are confident that it will provide a platform to further grow the
cross-border trade in education services between NZ and Malaysia in all modes of supply” says Robert Stevens.
Domestic approval of the Agreement must now be completed in both New Zealand and Malaysia before the documents can be
put forward for signature. Once this process has been completed, the full details of the Agreement will be made public.
ENDS