Focus on China and Hong Kong

North Asia (including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea) is currently New Zealand's largest export trading region, taking around a quarter of our total exports annually, a figure that grew by 12 percent in 2004 alone.

Global trade flows, population demographics, and New Zealand's developing international relations all point to this market and the wider Asian region being key to our future export-led growth.

New Zealand's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China provides opportunities for New Zealand exporters. China is actively seeking international partners to grow its export and import trade, and is also changing and leading trade flows within the wider North Asian region as its influence grows. Hong Kong, itself an important growth market for New Zealand, is also proving an important strategic market for accessing opportunities in China.

In response to this situation, and the inherent challenges of exporting to an opening market such as China, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is undertaking a series of strategic projects in China and Hong Kong. These include the opening of a major combined retail and business centre in Hong Kong, and projects in the dairy technology, wood processing, food and beverage and international education sectors.

NZTE is also working as an integral member of the taskforce progressing negotiations for the China FTA.

This page is dedicated to collating NZTE's range of resources about its work in China, and useful tools for exporters interested in researching further information on China and Hong Kong.

• NZTE strategic projects in China and Hong Kong
• Communications and events resources
• Useful research
• Exporter tools
• Industry contacts

NZTE Strategic Projects in China and Hong Kong

NZTE has a number of strategic sector projects taking place in China and Hong Kong this financial year, spread across a number of sectors where significant opportunities have been identified.

>> Why China and Hong Kong? (PDF, 116 KB) for further information on the food and beverage sector's projects.   

New Zealand Focus in Hong Kong

NZTE has opened a major cross-sectoral project, a combined retail and business centre in Hong Kong. Called New Zealand Focus, the centre houses a retail centre, fully functional business demonstration and event hosting areas, and information centres for studying and immigrating to New Zealand. NZTE has partnered with private sector companies and other agencies in this initiative. The centre is now open to the public, and was officially launched on 5 November, 2005. 

>> New Zealand Focus factsheet (PDF, 108 KB)
>> New Zealand Focus website

New Zealand Wood Innovation Centre in Shanghai

NZTE has established a showcase of New Zealand’s value-added wood products in Shanghai with the support of six New Zealand wood exporting companies.

The New Zealand Wood Innovation Centre was opened in November 2005.  The centre will promote innovative ways New Zealand wood fibre products can be used to deliver cutting-edge furniture, apartment fit outs, and construction solutions to the Chinese industry.

>> New Zealand Wood Innovation Centre website

China Retail Channel Development Project

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is planning a food and beverage initiative aimed at creating new business opportunities for New Zealand companies in the Chinese retail sector.

The China Retail Channel Development Project will allow established New Zealand exporters to present and showcase their products to end consumers in a New Zealand branded promotion in high end retail stores in Shanghai. The promotion will begin in Shanghai, China in the first six months of 2006.

Free Trade Agreements

New Zealand has signed an historic free trade agreement with China. For in-depth information about the FTA and what it means to New Zealand businesses, see the official FTA website at www.chinafta.govt.nz.

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Communications and Events Resources

NZTE has talked publicly about its projects and the opportunities in China and Hong Kong at a number of recent events. These presentations and statements include:

"Sourcing new opportunities for trade and business"- slide outline (PDF, 46KB) - 10 March, 2005
"Sourcing new opportunities for trade and business" - speech notes (PDF, 49KB) - 10 March, 2005
Presentation to the "Inside The New China' Rotary seminar  - this presentation by NZTE Senior Trade Commissioner Merv Stark discusses sector opportunities in China and reveals information on each of NZTE's strategic projects in China and Hong Kong.

"The possible effects of a Free Trade Agreement for New Zealand business - are we prepared?"  (PDF, 70KB) - 10 March 2005
Joint presentation to the 'Inside The New China' Rotary seminar - joint presentation by NZTE Senior Trade Commissioner Merv Stark with Derek Leask, Deputy Secretary,  External Economic & Trade Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

'China Insight' NZTE Seminar Series (PDF, 72KB) - November 2004
This presentation to Food and Beverage exporters, by NZTE's China-based food and beverage staff, discussing the changing food retail, service and wet market environment.

North Asia media releases by NZTE, including statements by NZTE Chief Executive Tim Gibson on China and Hong Kong.

Free trade prospects (PDF, 159KB)
NZTE's corporate magazine bright wrote about the challenges and opportunities of the forthcoming FTA with China in July 2004 (bright issue 05)

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Useful Research

Export Statistics to China, Hong Kong and North Asia
NZTE updates and publishes New Zealand's export statistics to the world each month, using Statistics New Zealand data. This data is broken into exports by region and country.

Joint Study Report on the Free Trade Agreement between China and New Zealand (MFAT web site)
In November 2004 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade published the scoping report undertaken by officials in China and New Zealand into the impact and effect of the potential free trade agreement (FTA). The report and other research is available from the MFAT web site.

Otago University report for NZTE "Analysis of Selected Chinese Food and Beverage Markets"
In February 2004 Otago University and NZTE published the results of a study researching the experiences and challenges of a group of New Zealand food and beverage companies exporting to China. The report was authored by Otago and commissioned by NZTE. 

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Exporter Tools

Navigating China – A business approach to the free trade agreement

The comprehensive, multimedia guide to doing business in China under the New Zealand-China free trade agreement also features a wealth of insight from New Zealand companies already operating in China.

MarketNewZealand.com

NZTE has a range of market intelligence tools available to exporters free of charge on its website MarketNewZealand.com. These contain:

• Country and Economy Briefs 
  Featuring need-to-know information on regulatory issues and freight, along with business and cultural tips. 
• City Guides 
  Covering information about the city you're travelling to, including advice on where to stay, how to get around and where to eat. 
• Offshore Sector Profiles
  Information on market trends, regulatory issues and opportunities in key sectors in these markets.

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Industry Contacts

New Zealand China Trade Association
Alyssa Cullen
Executive Director
P O Box 47, Auckland
Tel: + 64 9 302 9932
Fax: + 64 9 309 0081
www.nzcta.co.nz
 
Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association
Cindy Chen
Executive Director
PO Box 105 009, Auckland Central
Tel: + 64 9 443 3337
Fax: + 64 9 443 3331
www.hknzba.co.nz

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and Invest Hong Kong
Felicity Anderson
NZ Consultant
PO Box 65 415
Mairangi Bay, North Shore
Tel: +64 9 476 3265
Mob: +64 21 22 40 520
Email: hongkong@triocommunications.co.nz