Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton leaves New Zealand today for a four-day trip to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Mr Sutton is going to Singapore to take part in the first annual review of the Closer Economic Partnership agreement
with counterpart George Yeo. The trade agreement came into force in January this year.
Mr Sutton said the New Zealand-Singapore CEP had been a catalyst for many other trade agreements in the region, and it
had cemented an excellent relationship between New Zealand and Singapore.
"New Zealand is well and truly on the radar screen in Singapore now. There has been considerable anecdotal evidence of
Singaporean business taking a lot more notice of what New Zealand companies have to offer ? this review will be a good
opportunity for both sides to explore the consequences of the agreement."
Mr Sutton will also speak at a meeting hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies and the New Zealand-Singapore Business
Council.
>From Singapore, Mr Sutton goes to Hong Kong, to take part in a Pacific Economic Cooperation Council meeting. World
Trade Organisation director-general Mike Moore is also taking part in the meeting.
Mr Sutton will also meet his counterpart Brian Chau, and the two are expected to discuss progress in the CEP
negotiations between New Zealand and Hong Kong.
"Officials will be involved in another round of CEP negotiations in Hong Kong while I am there," Mr Sutton said.
"I hope to get an update on progress while I am in Hong Kong."
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