Japan NZ Business Council Celebrates 60 Years of Trade

4 October 2012,

Japan/NZ Business Council

Japan New Zealand Business Council Celebrates 60 Years of Trade

Celebrating and enhancing a 60-year diplomatic and trade relationship will be the focus of next month’s 39th annual conference and meeting of the Japan New Zealand Business Council.

The Japan New Zealand Business Council has played a key role in developing the relationship between the two long-term trading partners with New Zealand now exporting around $3.4 billion annually to our fourth-ranked trade partner Japan, while imports to New Zealand are around $2.9 billion per year.

“The fact Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key will deliver a special address to this year’s event underlines the strength and significance of our relationship with Japan. More than 7% of our total exports go to Japan,” says Brian Martin, Chairman of the New Zealand Committee.

Delegates from both Japan and New Zealand will attend the conference, which is being opened by Auckland Mayor Len Brown, and a special tribute will be paid to the chairman of the Japan committee Rue Yano, who has attended 37 of the 39 annual gatherings.

Mr Yano is also the Chairman of Sumitomo forestry, which has been operating in New Zealand for 40 years and earlier this year he was awarded the Japan Blue Ribbon medal from the Emperor of Japan. He was also honoured by the New Zealand Government earlier this year for services to New Zealand.

A number of Japanese businesses leaders will attend the conference, which will focus on Kiwi ingenuity taking in a tour of hi-tech local companies such as Buckley Systems and Lanzatech. Sessions during the conference will also focus on the developing relationship between Japan and New Zealand, the contribution of New Zealand’s primary industries, tourism and environmental sectors and the ongoing opportunities for further investment between the two long-term trade partners.

The conference begins on November 6 with a mayoral-hosted reception with two days of sessions to follow on November 7-8. Those interested in doing business with Japan and attending the conference should contact info@jnzbc.com

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