Business leaders and politicians will have another chance to cosy up to their Japanese counterparts next year.A third Japan-New Zealand partnership forum has been scheduled to be held in Tokyo on May 11-12 next year.NZ International Business forum executi
Business leaders and politicians will have another chance to cosy up to their Japanese counterparts next year.
A third Japan-New Zealand partnership forum has been scheduled to be held in Tokyo on May 11-12 next year.
NZ International Business forum executive director Stephen Jacobi said the two previous events in May 2008 and October 2009 were successful in developing new momentum in the relationship between the two countries.
“The challenging economic times in which we find ourselves demand something more than incremental progress,” he said.
“Business models are changing rapidly, trade and investment needs to expand to enable us to respond to consumers’ needs, a new generation of trade agreements is today in the making.”
Mr Jacobi said business needs to continue to play a strong role in moving the agenda between the two countries forward.
While Japan is not party to the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations, Mr Jacobi said the talks were being watched with interest.
“Comments from newly appointed Japanese ministers in recent weeks suggest that consideration of the strategic merits of joining [the] TPP while it is still under negotiation is generating significant interest in Tokyo.”
Mr Jacobi said the partnership forum next year would focus on the development of the relationship between Japan and New Zealand in its broadest sense.
