International partnership with South Korean shipbuilding company secures new vessel development deal.

Several new potential synergies were identified at the 2nd Korea New Zealand Business Roundtable, held yesterday in Seoul.

The roundtable was organised by the NZ International Business Forum and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), and was attended by about 70 delegates from both New Zealand and South Korea.

Information technology, “clean” technology, health services, and agricultural technology took centre stage during case study presentations of actual and potential co-operation between the two countries.

Select members of the local business community will be heading to Seoul this week to meet their counterparts, in a bid to boost Korean business interest in New Zealand ahead of the government’s free trade negotiations.

The roundtable discussions have been organised by the New Zealand International Business Forum in conjuction with the Korean International Trade Association, and will run over 9-10 June.

Closer links with Japan and Korea are on Prime Minister Helen Clark's agenda as she heads abroad this week on what is likely to be her last overseas trip before the election.

Miss Clark, who flies out tomorrow night, will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in Tokyo and will also attend the inaugural Japan-New Zealand Partnership Forum -- a high-level business event aimed at refocusing Japanese attention on New Zealand.