Move as quickly as possible with Korea urges Business Forum

by | May 19, 2008 | Media Releases

Remove

The New Zealand International Business Forum today urged both Korean and New Zealand governments to move as quickly as possible towards a free trade agreement.

Welcoming the news from Seoul that Korea and New Zealand had agreed to start talks intended to lead towards an FTA, NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi congratulated the two governments and said the Forum hoped negotiations could begin before the end of year.

“We appreciate that it takes time to develop a negotiating mandate and both countries have other negotiations underway but with a very positive study already completed and strong complementarities between the two economies, the New Zealand business community is keen for negotiations to start as soon as possible”.

Mr Jacobi said a free trade agreement would be a natural next step in the relationship between the two countries.

“Korea is an important partner for New Zealand not only in terms of two way trade but in the effort to free up trade in the Asia Pacific region more generally.  With a high quality FTA in place, Korea could become an important trade ally for New Zealand”.

NZIBF Chairman Graeme Harrison and three other members of the International Business Forum, which brings together some of the country’s largest exporters and the major business organisations, joined the Prime Minister for a dinner in Seoul on Friday 16 May.

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

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...

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...

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...

NZ BUSINESS LEADERS AT APEC 2022

New Zealand business will be represented at the APEC Leaders’ Week in Bangkok, commencing 13 November, by members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). New Zealand’s three members – Rachel Taulelei, Malcolm Johns and Anna Curzon – supported by Stephen Jacobi...

Submission to MFAT for CPTPP Review

30 September 2022 Phil Mellor Economic Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington (By email) Dear Phil, Thank you for your email of 1 September, seeking our comments on the three year review of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans...