Chengdu business federation to help competitive industries go global

Summary

A China (Chengdu)–New Zealand business matchmaking conference held recently in Chengdu produced five cooperation intentions on the spot, and the Auckland Business Chamber was named an 'Open Chengdu' overseas partner. The event was hosted by the Chengdu Centre for Opening-up and Cooperation Promotion and the Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce. Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges led a 20-strong delegation that met more than 80 Chengdu representatives.

Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce chairman Yu Jian said the resumption of direct Chengdu–Auckland flights in 2024 had put trade and economic exchanges into a higher gear, and the federation would next help local competitive industries expand offshore.

Commentary

The 'Open Chengdu' overseas partner status handed to the Auckland Business Chamber gives New Zealand SMEs a low-cost way to test China's western market. Chengdu is a consumer centre for western China, and with direct flights back in service since 2024, business travel time and cost have fallen sharply. NZ firms in food trade, biomedicine and green energy can gauge market response quickly through one-on-one matchmaking.

The picture is less comfortable for local manufacturers. Chengdu private companies are also accelerating their own offshore push, and price-sensitive goods such as building materials and homeware could arrive in New Zealand and squeeze smaller local producers in the same categories. NZ SMEs would do better to prioritise high-value, traceable categories and to use the chamber's endorsement to manage standards certification and channel segmentation, rather than leaning on tariff advantages alone.

Keywords: Chengdu–New Zealand business matchmaking, Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce, Auckland Business Chamber, cooperation intentions, Open Chengdu, businesses going global, Five Foreign Linkages, sister-city ties

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

中国（成都）—新西兰经贸对接洽谈会日前在蓉举行，由成都市对外开放合作促进中心、成都市工商联主办。奥克兰商会首席执行官西蒙·布里吉斯率20人代表团，与80余位成都代表洽谈，现场促成合作意向5个，并授予奥克兰商会“开放成都”海外合作伙伴铭牌。成都市工商联主席俞建称，2024年成都至奥克兰直航复航为经贸往来按下“加速键”，下一步将助本土优势产业出海。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

奥克兰商会获授“开放成都”海外合作伙伴，为新西兰中小企业进入中国西部市场提供了低成本试探渠道。成都是中国西部消费中心，2024年直航复航后，商务差旅时间与成本大幅下降，食品贸易、生物医药、绿色能源等领域的新西兰企业可通过一对一对接快速验证市场反应。另一方面，成都民企加速出海也可能将建材、家居等价格敏感产品带入新西兰，挤压本地同类中小制造商。

建议NZ SME优先选择高附加值、可溯源品类，并借助商会背书处理好标准认证与渠道分层，而非仅依赖关税优势。

关键词: 成都—新西兰经贸对接, 成都市工商联, 奥克兰商会, 合作意向, 开放成都, 企业出海, 五外联动, 友好城市

Source: Sina