Planning is well advanced for the second Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum to be held in Tokyo on Friday 30 October 2009, says the event’s organiser the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF).

NZIBF Executive Director Stephen said over 100 business and government representatives from both countries would gather in Tokyo to discuss ways of building a stronger partnership between the two countries.

“At a time when the economic recovery is gaining pace the Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum provides an excellent opportunity for New Zealand to enhance relations with our third largest trade and investment partner.”

The Forum builds on the success of the inaugural Forum held in May 2008.  The Forum will be addressed by the Prime Minister Hon John Key and Foreign Minister Hon Murray McCully. A senior representative of the newly elected Japanese Government is also expected to attend.

“Since the last Forum, both countries have sworn in new governments and the global economic environment has undergone unprecedented change. At the same time New Zealand has become even more integrated in the Asian region through free trade agreements with China and ASEAN.  Japan’s new Prime Minister is also interested to develop a new East Asian Community. This Forum is about ensuring our relations with our long term partner Japan are kept relevant and up to date”.

The Partnership Forum is organised by NZIBF in close co-operation with the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo and partners in Japan.  The Forum will be chaired for Japan by the respected business leader Mr Yoshihiko Miyauchi, Chairman of the Nippon Keidanren’s Asia Pacific Committee[1] and Chairman and CEO of ORIX Corporation. The former Trade Minister Hon Philip Burdon, currently Chairman of the Asia NZ Foundation, will chair for New Zealand.

Under the theme “Partnership and the Real Economy”, the Forum will explore how both countries can develop sustainable new business by focusing on issues and concerns that matter to consumers like sustainable energy and food safety and security as well as expanding trade and investment.

New Zealand companies exporting both goods and services to Japan will be involved at senior level alongside major corporations from Japan, many with investment in New Zealand. Gold sponsors of the Forum are ANZCO Foods, Asia NZ Foundation, Fonterra, Sealord, Meat and Wool New Zealand, Nippon Suisan Kaisha and Zespri.  Silver sponsors are Air New Zealand, Solid Energy and TJK (NZ) Ltd.

The 2009 Forum will form part of a series of events taking place in Tokyo next week aimed at promoting the Japan/NZ relationship:

·      Prime Minister Key’s official visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Government
·      The Japan New Zealand Business Council will hold its 36th annual joint meeting on Thursday 29 October
·      The New Zealand Government will erect the “Giant Rugby Ball” next to the iconic Tokyo Tower
·      The week’s events will culminate with a Bledisloe Cup match to be played at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday 31 October

[1] Nippon Keidanren is Japan’s leading business organisation.