Japan New Zealand Business Council celebrated 60 years of trade

The Japan New Zealand Business Council celebrated a 60-year diplomatic and trade relationship at a conference in Auckland on November 6-8.

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

Prime Minister John Key delivered a special address. A number of Japanese business leaders attended including the chairman of Sumitomo forestry Rue Yano who is also chairman of the the council’s Japan committee.

The council’s NZ committee chairman, Brian Martin paid a special tribute to Yano who has attended 37 of the 39 annual gatherings.

Further details can be found at the  Japan New Zealand Business Council – website: www.jnzbc.com