Forum Supports Closer Trade With Europe

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM

(www.nzibf.co.nz)

Media release – 4 October 2007

Forum Supports Closer Trade With Europe

The New Zealand International Business Forum strongly supports the concept of closer trade and economic relations with the European Union, including a future free trade agreement.

The International Business Forum is a collaboration of senior New Zealand business leaders working to expand New Zealand's international business opportunities. The Forum's membership includes New Zealand's leading exporters to the European Union. The Forum was reacting to media reports from Brussels suggesting Prime Minister Helen Clark had raised closer economic relations with EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

International Business Forum Executive Director Stephen Jacobi said: An even closer partnership with Europe makes perfect sense. The European Union is already a leading trading partner for New Zealand and is expanding its free trade agreements with countries in the Asian Pacific region. We are likeminded on many issues. There is also need to broaden our economic relationship with Europe beyond traditional agricultural exports and to develop new partnerships in services, technology and research, which can work to the benefit of both parties.

Mr Jacobi said the Forum planned to develop a focus on Europe alongside its other market priorities, Japan and Korea. The Forum also supported existing business strategies with Australia, the United States and China.

Engagement with the rest of the world is critical to New Zealand's economic future. The Forum intends to focus its attention on New Zealand's main trade and economic priorities and work closely with the Government and other business organisations to move these key relationships forward.

Forum's Board members are from some of New Zealand's leading internationally oriented companies and from the country's high-level business organisations. The companies cover the dairy, meat, seafood, kiwifruit, technology and services sectors and the business organisations represent New Zealand's export, manufacturing and services industries.

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