Prime Minister John Key will address the second Korea NZ Business Roundtable to be held in Seoul on 6 July, the NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) said today.

“Prime Minister Key’s address will be a highlight of this second gathering of senior business leaders from both countries.  The event builds on the success of the first Roundtable held in Seoul in June 2009 and takes place as New Zealand continues its FTA negotiation with Korea,” said NZIBF Executive Director Stephen Jacobi.

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

Mr Jacobi said around 70 New Zealanders and Koreans are expected to attend the invitation-only event.  The Roundtable is being held under the theme “Innovation, growth, opportunity”.  It will look at how the global economic recovery is leading to new opportunities for innovation and business growth between the two countries.

“The business relationship with Korea is back into growth mode.  Korea is among the few larger economies to avoid recession in 2009 and has achieved one of the strongest recoveries in the OECD. Growth is expected to reach 4.5 percent in 2010 and 5 percent in 2011”.

“Today Korea is New Zealand’s seventh largest trading partner with two way trade totalling $2.6 billion in December 2009.  With the FTA negotiation currently underway, trade and investment with Korea is poised to expand even further”.

New Zealand’s delegation includes Chairs/Board members/CEOs of the following companies and organisations:  Anzco Foods, Asia NZ Foundation, Auckland UniServices, Business NZ, Fonterra, GNS Science, Harmonic, Hyundai New Zealand, Jack Links, Meat and Wool New Zealand, NZ Trade and Enterprise, PF Olsen, Sanford, Snapper, Straker Software, Zespri.

NZIBF acknowledges the support of the following sponsors of the New Zealand delegation:  Anzco Foods, Asia NZ Foundation, Fonterra, Meat and Wool New Zealand and Zespri.  Assistance has also been received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NZ Trade and Enterprise and the NZ Embassy in Seoul.

The Roundtable will feature a New Zealand themed lunch hosted by NZ Trade and Enterprise and will be followed by the 26th Annual Joint Meeting of the Korea New Zealand Business Council.