Japan-New Zealand Partnership Forum
The
event was organised by the New Zealand International Business Forum
with the support of the Japan New Zealand Business Council, Nippon
Keidanren, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and the New Zealand Embassy in
Tokyo. It was co-chaired by the Chairman and CEO of Orix Corporation,
Mr Yoshihiko Miyauchi, and the Chairman of the Asia New Zealand
Foundation, Hon Philip Burdon.
This year marked the 50th
anniversary of the bilateral Agreement on Commerce which opened the way
to the modern trade and economic relationship between Japan and New
Zealand. Japan today is New Zealand's third largest export destination
and fourth largest trading partner overall. The two-way trade in the
year to December 2007 amounted to $7.3 billion.
The forum was
attended by 93 government, business and community leaders from both
Japan and New Zealand. Business was the main focus, as the forum
welcomed the decision of the Prime Ministers of Japan and New Zealand
to study the possibility of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), to
further strengthen economic and other ties between Japan and New
Zealand.
An important role for government and business working
together is to make Japanese industry more aware of New Zealand
capabilities and to encourage New Zealanders to think of Japan as a
business partner. Issues of sustainability and climate change were also
discussed.
Support was expressed for the Japanese initiative to create a Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia as well as for closer trade and economic ties between Japan and New Zealand.
The full text of Prime Minister Helen Clark's speech is available here.
A commentary from Philip Burdon, Asia New Zealand Foundation Chair, is available here.
A concluding statement from the Forum's Co-Chairs is available here.
Related Asia:NZ links - Business Research