Stephen Jacobi continues his posts from his Singapore sojourn.
Entry into force of FTA ushers in new era for NZ UK trade

Media release, 5 May 2023
The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) welcomes the announcement that the NZ UK Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on 31 May 2023.
“When so many around the world are turning their back on trade liberalisation, New Zealand and the United Kingdom are now on a runway to a new relationship” says NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.
“The NZ UK FTA is noticeable for the commercially meaningful market access and improved trade rules it provides for both sides on entry into force, which will incentivise new trade and investment. That is good for consumers, for businesses and for the economy as a whole. The next step will be UK membership of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP): this will add further economic and commercial heft to that ground-breaking plurilateral agreement, which others are also interested to join”.
Mr Jacobi congratulated both Governments and their officials for their leadership and work to get to this point.
“The FTA will lead to a new era in trade relations between New Zealand and the UK. Hopefully others will see what is possible when the focus is placed on creating better trade rules and a more level playing field in which their businesses can operate”, concluded Mr Jacobi.
REGISTER WITH TRADE WORKS
Register to stay up to date with latest news, as well as saving and discussing articles you’re interested in.
Latest News
SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND – A MOST “FTA-ed” RELATIONSHIP
Stephen Jacobi continues his posts from his Singapore sojourn. Spending time in Singapore reminds me of the several visits I made in 2000-02 when I was serving as Private Secretary to Trade Minister Jim Sutton. Jim concluded the first free trade agreement with...
ADDRESS TO THE 52nd ONE STOP UPDATE FOR THE ACCOUNTANT IN BUSINESS
CHRISTCHURCH, WELLINGTON, AUCKLAND, MAY 2023 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,NZ INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM GLOBAL ECONOMIC UPDATE Thanks to our friends at Brightstar for having me back again to provide the global economic update. I’ll be talking at a macro level...
RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAINS – FROM THE 9th CENTURY TO THE 21st
I am spending some extended time in Singapore. This gives me the opportunity to see things from the vantage point of this amazing trade hub of the Asia Pacific. From the sight from the plane of container ships – lots and lots of them – in the...
Asia Pacific Business Leaders Call for Forging a New Path on Inclusion, Resilience, and Sustainability
Bandar Seri Begawan, 30 April 2023 - APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) members this week urged APEC Trade Ministers to leverage the challenges facing the region, including environmental risks, financial stress and the cost-of-living crisis, as opportunities to...
Remarks to ASEAN Business Council Webinar, 26 April 2023
REMARKS TO ASEAN NZ BUSINESS COUNCIL WEBINAR, 26 APRIL 2023 STEPHEN JACOBI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHEN ELEPHANTS FIGHT - US/CHINA TENSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ASEAN It’s great to join this webinar with my good friend Siah Hwee Ang. Thanks to the ASEAN NZ Business...
Business Forum welcomes report’s strategic approach to Indian market
Media release, 27 April 2023 The NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) welcomes the discussion document India & New Zealand, A Relationship Ready For Its Next Phase released today by the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC). “INZBC and the report’s authors...
Remarks to Confederation of Indian Industry Partnership Summit, New Delhi, 15 March 2023
"The Future of Multilateralism" by Stephen Jacobi, NZIBF Executive Director Namaskar Tēnā koutou katoa – greetings to you all in the language of the Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is an honour for me to speak to such a distinguished gathering today....
AMIDST THE STORM: ABAC MEETS IN AUCKLAND
Perhaps a cyclone was after all a fitting backdrop for the meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) which was held in Auckland on 12-14 February – the global environment against which the meeting took place is decidedly stormy. In the event the wind...
Asia-Pacific business leaders call for action on climate and economic inclusion
APEC NEWS RELEASE Issued by The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Auckland, 14 February 2023 - Members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) met in Auckland, New Zealand this week to develop a work plan that calls on policymakers to leverage trade and...
ASIA-PACIFIC BUSINESS LEADERS GATHERING IN AUCKLAND, 12-14 FEBRUARY 2023
Media Release - 8 February 2023 Equity, sustainability and opportunity are key themes of one of the largest gatherings of senior Asia-Pacific business leaders held in New Zealand for some time. The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is due to meet in Tāmaki...
A YEAR FOR RECONNECTING
As I write this end of year dispatch, NZIBF is preparing to host the first meeting for 2023 of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). We are looking forward to welcoming the 200 or so business leaders and senior officials from APEC member economies across the...
MAJOR GATHERING OF ASIA-PACIFIC BUSINESS LEADERS TO BE HELD IN AUCKLAND, 12-14 FEBRUARY 2023
Media Release - 14 December 2022 Sustainability, digitalisation and resilient, inclusive trade will be key themes of a major gathering of senior Asia-Pacific business leaders to be held in Auckland early next year – the first such event to be held in New Zealand...
NZ Herald: Time to lift our game in India
Following his recent visit to India our Executive Director Stephen Jacobi penned this article advocating a more strategic approach to the further development of the relationship. The article was published by the NZ Herald on 9 December.
APEC Rolls out Priorities for 2023
Issued by the Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting - Honolulu, The United States, 13 December 2022 Aiming to provide tailwinds for member economies to strengthen recovery and resilience, as well as advance broad-based economic growth, the United States rolled out its...
NZIBF 2022 Chair Report
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2022 CHAIR’S REPORT I am pleased to present my second report on the activities and achievements of the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) for 2022-23, our fifteenth year of operations. At the outset I would like to thank Members for...