International partnerships

Trade mission to Guangzhou hot on heels of China - NZ FTA

In April, Auckland City Council successfully led a trade mission to the 103rd China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou.

Formerly the Canton Fair, this is China's largest trade fair by attendance and business turnover. 192,013 overseas buyers attended and export turnover totalled US$38.23 billion.

Twenty delegates representing the shipping, wine, IT, furniture, storage, chemical, multimedia and honey industries participated, three of whom exhibited in the 'New Zealand Inc.' space at the fair.

Auckland's 19-year sister city relationship with Guangzhou, coupled with the timely signing of the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement, significantly enhanced the profile of the delegation and induced new business opportunities.

Individual business meetings with potential buyers, sellers, distributors and joint-venture partners were a key benefit. "This was a very successful business trip for our company. We have already made the first order from the lighting company that we met at the business meetings," said Mr Bong Wong, managing director, Multimedia Systems Limited, one month after returning.

Other value-added activities included pre-departure information sessions, a 'doing business in China' seminar, media coverage and business networking opportunities.

The main organisers of the mission were the New Zealand China Trade Association and the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) Inc., with support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Published July 2008