Chinese holiday-makers descended on Queenstown for their New Year celebrations last month and now Japanese business leaders will visit the resort to take advantage of the New Zealand PGA Championship and Challenge Golf Tournament.
The New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF) will host about 50 delegates and their spouses from technology, agri-business, tourism, forestry and financial services sectors today. Prime Minister John Key is scheduled to address delegates tonight at Millbrook Resort.
About half the delegates are coming from around New Zealand and the other half are from Japan. Forum chairman Sir Graeme Harrison said the presence of a number of senior Japanese business representatives provided an ideal opportunity for an informal exchange of views on issues relevant to both countries.
Trade between the two nations was worth $6.1 billion in 2011.
''Free-trade negotiations are expected to commence in mid-year, in the context of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,'' he said.
''Japan is also exploring membership of the Trans Pacific Partnership. We will want to discuss the implications of a new government in Japan for these initiatives, update our visitors on the prospects for the New Zealand economy, particularly in the light of the quickening pace of the Christchurch rebuild and explore the potential for expanding tourism and other trade links.''
Sir Graeme said Sir Maarten Wevers, former head of the Prime Minister's Department and former ambassador to Japan, would chair the discussions. Business networking is seen as a strategic aim of the NZ PGA tournament.
