National Party leader and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges will attend the annual Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum in Sydney on Friday.

Simon says the forum is a great opportunity for business leaders from the largest companies in Australia and New Zealand to engage with law makers on both sides of the Tasman to strengthen trade and economic relationships.

'Two-way trade between our two countries is valued at around $24 billion and National places great importance on this relationship which has, unfortunately, recently been strained by this government's antagonistic approach to Australia,” he says.

'I'm looking forward to the chance to introduce myself to people and to talk about what the National Party I lead will stand and fight for.

'That includes our commitment to security, free trade and promoting international investment to create opportunities and help ensure our businesses succeed and our people get ahead.”

He says with the current government looking to tighten rules around immigration and foreign investors, he wants to reiterate his party's commitment to ‘an open economy'.

Simon will leave for Australia on Friday morning, and return the same day.