A high level business delegation will travel to Seoul next week for the first Korea-New Zealand Business Roundtable, to be held 9-10 June, the NZ International Business Forum said today.

“This is the largest delegation of New Zealand business leaders to have visited Seoul and their visit takes place as negotiations get underway for a free trade agreement between the two countries”, said NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.

The Roundtable is being organised by NZIBF in association with the Korean International Trade Association (KITA).

Mr Jacobi said 33 New Zealanders and 36 Koreans were expected to attend the invitation-only event which would look at how New Zealand and Korea, as complementary economies, can co-operate more closely in the areas of trade and investment, green growth and information and communications technology.

“Korea is already New Zealand’s ninth largest trading partner.  We believe there is capacity to grow this relationship even further and business needs to play a leading role in making that happen”.

New Zealand’s delegation includes Chairs/Board members/CEOs of the following companies and organisations:  Auckland University and Uniservices, ASB Bank, Anzco Foods, Asia NZ Foundation, Fonterra, Harmonic, Hyundai New Zealand, Meat and Wool New Zealand, NZ Chambers of Commerce, Pike River Coal, PF Olsen, Sanford, Straker Software, Zespri.

The Minister of Trade. Hon Tim Groser, will deliver a key note address at the Roundtable. The following government agencies will be represented: Customs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NZ Trade and Enterprise.

Two young leaders from the Asia NZ Young Leaders network will also participate.

NZIBF acknowledges the support of the following sponsors of the New Zealand delegation:  Anzco Foods, Asia NZ Foundation, Fonterra, Meat and Wool NZ, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NZ Trade and Enterprise and Zespri.

The Korea New Zealand Business Roundtable opens in Seoul on the evening of Tuesday 9 June and concludes on 10 June.