The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) will be represented at this week’s meeting of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum by Chairman Graeme Harrison and Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.

“Australia is New Zealand’s single most important trade and economic partner and the Forum is an opportunity to review progress in expanding the relationship further” said Stephen Jacobi.

“The relationship with Australia has a bearing on almost all aspects of New Zealand’s economic management and performance.  Co-operation with Australia is also central to New Zealand’s efforts to achieve freer trade in the Asia Pacific region whether through APEC or such joint initiatives as the CER-ASEAN FTA or the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).  The pace of Australia’s own FTA negotiations with Japan and Korea will impact on the success of New Zealand own FTA initiatives with those countries”.

Mr Jacobi said NZIBF looked forwarded to discussing progress in building the single market with Australia and how business in both countries might work together to open new markets in third countries.

The sixth annual Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum takes place in Sydney on 21-22 August.   Prime Minister John Key and senior Ministers along with Leader of the Opposition Hon Phil Goff will in participate in the Forum along with Australian Ministers business leaders from both countries.

Mr Jacobi travels from Sydney to Da Nang, Viet Nam, for the third meeting for 2009 of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), 24-27 August.