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

Source: Sina