New Zealand's Export Future

Vangelis Vitalis, Deputy Secretary NZ Trade and Economic Group, MFAT

Tuesday, 30 July 2024 4:30pm

Nelson

Nelson Golf Club

Please note date and time.  This is a Tuesday, not Thursday.

Vangelis was New Zealand’s Chief Negotiator who led the conclusion of negotiations for the New Zealand European Union Free Trade Agreement (EUNZFTA), CPTPP, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and before that the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA). He was also a member of the negotiating teams for the New Zealand-China FTA.

Prior to taking up his role in Wellington in 2017, Vangelis was New Zealand’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva where he chaired the agriculture negotiations in a personal capacity. In this role he helped draft the text of the historic Nairobi WTO Ministerial Decision) to eliminate agricultural export subsidies. Vangelis has also been the Ambassador to the European Union and NATO in Brussels and has had postings to Canberra and Moscow. Vangelis is married with three children and speaks Greek, German and Russian.

He relaxes by fishing and is a longstanding (and suffering) supporter of the Wellington Phoenix Football Club.

Contact the Nelson branch

OKE BLAIKIE

oblaikie@gmail.com

Please note date and time.  This is a Tuesday, not Thursday.

Vangelis was New Zealand’s Chief Negotiator who led the conclusion of negotiations for the New Zealand European Union Free Trade Agreement (EUNZFTA), CPTPP, the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) and before that the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA). He was also a member of the negotiating teams for the New Zealand-China FTA.

Prior to taking up his role in Wellington in 2017, Vangelis was New Zealand’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva where he chaired the agriculture negotiations in a personal capacity. In this role he helped draft the text of the historic Nairobi WTO Ministerial Decision) to eliminate agricultural export subsidies. Vangelis has also been the Ambassador to the European Union and NATO in Brussels and has had postings to Canberra and Moscow. Vangelis is married with three children and speaks Greek, German and Russian.

He relaxes by fishing and is a longstanding (and suffering) supporter of the Wellington Phoenix Football Club.

Membership

NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.