Political and business leaders from Japan and New Zealand will meet next week at the Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum in Tokyo where they will focus on how to deepen co-operation for renewal and recovery.

New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) Executive Director Stephen Jacobi says over 100 delegates and observers will offer remembrance for lives lost in the disasters in Christchurch and north-eastern Japan and share their views on how the partnership can deliver a brighter future for both countries.

“Japan and New Zealand have long been partners for progress.  More recently we have been partners in tragic loss.  Now we need to focus on how that partnership can be leveraged for future prosperity.”

Under the theme ‘Japan and New Zealand ? overcoming adversity, building the future’, the Forum will discuss how the two countries might co-operate in the rebuilding effort.

“Shared interests in the use of engineered timber in construction will figure highly along with the need to rebuild national brands.  The role of innovation in new business partnerships in sustainable energy and food security will also be on the agenda”.

Mr Jacobi said the Forum would explore the vision for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement and discuss how Japan’s economic interests could be advanced especially in the areas of supply chain efficiency, ease of doing business, regulatory co-operation and competitiveness.

“As New Zealand’s economic recovery gains pace, the Forum is an excellent opportunity for both countries to discuss further how the integration of the economies of the Asia Pacific can best be achieved. This is vital if we are to accelerate our own economic rebuild and cement our future success”.

The Partnership Forum is organised by the NZIBF in conjunction with the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo, the Japan New Zealand Business Council, the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the International Friendship Exchange Council.  The Forum is supported strongly by both governments.

Respected business leader, Mr Yoshihiko Miyauchi, Chairman and CEO of ORIX Corporation, will chair the Forum for Japan. Former Trade Minister and current Chairman of the Asia NZ Foundation, Hon Philip Burdon, will chair for New Zealand.

The Forum will be addressed by Trade Minister Tim Groser and Mr Yutaka Banno, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan.  The Forum luncheon, featuring Japanese and New Zealand cuisine, will be addressed by Professor Atsushi Seike, President of Keio University and a member of government advisory councils on the New Growth Strategy and Reconstruction Design.
Senior representatives from New Zealand companies and business organisations with interests in Japan will also be involved alongside their counterparts from major Japanese corporations such as Daiken, Fuji Electric, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Nissui, Rinnai, Sumitomo and Toshiba.

Gold sponsors of the Forum include ANZCO Foods, Asia New Zealand Foundation, Fonterra, Beef+Lamb New Zealand and Zespri.   Silver sponsors are Nissui, Sealord and TJK (NZ) Ltd.