It's business time. Prime Minister John Key will spend tonight wining and dining with world leaders but for this morning his focus is on commerce - more specifically New Zealand businesses operating in Vietnam and the opportunities the Southeast Asian nation provides for exporters.
Mr Key arrived in Vietnam last night and travels to Hanoi this afternoon for the East Asia Summit. While there he will hold formal meeting with many of his counterparts and informal 'pull-asides' with many more.
Among his official meetings were his first bi-lateral with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and another with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
This morning though, his time is dedicated to business. Starting with breakfast with people from the aviation industry.
Mr Key will give a short speech ahead of the signing of a letter of intent for the purchase of aircraft from New Zealand company Pacific Aerospace to a Vietnamese company.
Also among the attendees will be Hamilton-based CTC Aviation Training trains aircrew and pilots here.
CTC will supply 64 pilots to Jetstar under a new cadet programme. Candidates for the programme were selected from Singapore and Vietnam and will be trained in New Zealand.
Glidepath Group, an international airport baggage and air cargo systems provider, was also looking to expand operations in Vietnam.
Mr Key identified the aviation sector as one with major opportunities for New Zealand companies.
Vietnam was an increasingly important market for New Zealand with exports of $400 million dollars a year and increasing, Mr Key said.
Two-way trade with New Zealand was almost $600 million a year.
Mr Key said the opportunities were not just in New Zealand's traditional strong-hold of agriculture exports.
"It's an interesting market. There's exciting opportunities in Vietnam."
Mr Key would also attend a function for gas manufacturer Intermech and visit an international school this morning.
A rugby World Cup event later today was an opportunity for New Zealand to sell the sporting event as a chance to catch business leaders in one place.
Graham Sims, New Zealand's Trade Commissioner in Vietnam, said Vietnamese people were keen on sport and the World Cup would promote New Zealand industries.
The former All Black said today's function would tell local people about business activities during the World Cup and encourage them to get to New Zealand and participate.
NZPA