(Reuters) – New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Adern is visiting the United States for a week to promote exports and attract more tourists. The Pacific nation will be looking to reopen their border following more than two decades of restriction.

Ardern visits the United States while Joe Biden, U.S. president, is in South Korea and Japan on a five day trip. Biden will be returning to Washington, however her public agenda does NOT include meeting Ardern.

“New Zealand has a long-standing and important relationship with America. Ardern announced Monday that this mission will include both political and security engagement, as well as promotion of tourism and trade.

According to official data, bilateral trade between the two countries was estimated at NZ$18.5billion ($12billion) in 2021. The annual growth rate for the past 15 year averaged around 5%.

New Zealand was the third most popular destination for Americans, accounting for 10% of arrivals in New Zealand before COVID-19.

Ardern stated that New Zealanders are planning to visit New Zealand months in advance, so now is the best time for us to make ourselves known in America and let Americans know we’re open for business.

New Zealand closed its borders to non-citizens on March 2020, which helped maintain COVID-19 numbers low. Ardern stated early in the month that the country would be fully opening its borders by the end July.

After recovering from COVID-19, Ardern will depart Monday evening to meet U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, New York, and other senior senators. She will also deliver Harvard University’s commencement address in Boston.

($1 = 1.5652 New Zealand dollar)