New Zealand gov't funds promotion of education in Asia, South America

The New Zealand government is to step up marketing and promotion of its education sector in key markets such as China, India, Southeast Asia and South America, it revealed in its annual Budget on Thursday.

The Budget included 40 million NZ dollars (32.98 million U.S. dollars) over the next four years to help meet the government target of doubling the value of international education to 5 billion NZ dollars by 2025.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said international education contributed more than 2 billion NZ dollars to the economy each year and supported about 32,000 jobs.

"In 2012, nearly 100,000 international students studied in New Zealand and almost 3,000 students were enrolled in New Zealand education institutions offshore," Joyce said in a statement.

"Former international students are often employed overseas for New Zealand companies, and international students are great advocates and ambassadors for New Zealand in their home countries. "

The new funding would also be invested in increasing the participation of New Zealanders in overseas study and deepening New Zealand engagement with overseas education institutions and governments.