Maritime Stakeholders from Lorient and Concarneau open their doors to New Zealand

On April 15, 2026, a delegation of companies from New Zealand set sail for a tour in Lorient and Concarneau, organised at the initiative of the Bretagne Sailing Valley programme and NZTE, the New Zealand government agency for international trade and enterprise. Accompanied by Joanna Kempkers, New Zealand Ambassador to France, they were able to explore potential collaboration opportunities with Breton maritime industry stakeholders.

The Kiwis got the opportunity to discover a glimpse of the richness of Brittany’s maritime and sailing ecosystem. On April 15th, a delegation of representatives from eleven New Zealand companies arrived in Concarneau and Lorient to meet with local players.

They were joined by Joanna Kempkers, New Zealand Ambassador to France. This visit follows on from a first trip organised in October 2025 in Lorient, driven by skipper Conrad Colman and Rowan Gyde in connection with their Aotearoa Ocean Racing project.

Strengthening Ties Between Brittany and New Zealand

While that first visit had focused mainly on offshore racing, this second one broadened the scope of the companies visited and their respective expertise.

A diverse range of players featured in the programme put together by the Bretagne Sailing Valley team: two major defence players, Piriou and Naval Group; JFA Yachts and Grand Large Yachting for leisure and luxury boat building; offshore racing with MerConcept; as well as the energy transition and wind-powered maritime transport sector through the tall masts of SolidSail Mast Factory.

“The goal was to connect this delegation with the right people,” says Arnaud Cacquevel, head of the Bretagne Sailing Valley programme. The ambassador’s presence made it possible to address institutional topics and strengthen ties with key players such as local authorities (Lorient), the University of South Britanny, and the Cité de la Voile, all of which were keen to build stronger relationships with New Zealand. “Everyone got something out of it: nautical specialists were able to discover the defence and shipbuilding sectors, which made the experience very enriching.”

Giving International Resonance to the Breton Ecosystem

Considered one of the world’s major maritime hubs, New Zealand shares the same seafaring DNA as Brittany. Breton companies did not hesitate to open their doors to their counterparts from the other side of the world. “Local companies were very curious and delighted to share their expertise. Brittany has nothing to be ashamed of; it represents a major share of France’s maritime economy. This visit gave our ecosystem real international visibility.”

Throughout the day, some unexpected, yet clearly natural collaborations emerged. “Initially, we thought there would be few direct connections,” says Tara Druce, trade commissioner for NZTE, the New Zealand government agency for international trade and enterprise. “But during the meetings, several participants already knew each other by reputation or were already using New Zealand equipment on their boats. Beyond business, there was a genuine desire to understand each other’s technologies, get a feel for the French market, and connect as passionate sea lovers.” These ties could be further developed at major international events in the nautical and sailing sectors, such as Metstrade in Amsterdam, Boot in Düsseldorf, or Euronaval in Paris.