Cultural exchange drives trade as NZ-China matchmaking forum opens in Chengdu

Summary

The China (Chengdu)–New Zealand trade matchmaking conference was held in Chengdu on 7 September, with Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges leading a delegation that spans biomedicine, green building,

food, clean energy, cybersecurity and snow tourism. Chengdu Federation of Industry and Commerce chairman Yu Jian told the forum that Chengdu and the Waikato region established friendly co-operative relations in 1996,

that the city forged a sister-city link with Hamilton in 2015, and that the Chengdu–Auckland direct air route resumed in 2024.

Commentary

The Auckland Business Chamber delegation's spread across biomedicine, green building, food and clean energy reflects New Zealand's shift from primary agricultural exports towards higher-value services. With the Chengdu–Auckland direct route restored, cold-chain and business travel costs into the southwest market have fallen, opening a window for smaller brands such as manuka honey and premium wine to reach second- and third-tier consumers. Chengdu, however, already has mature supply chains in clean energy, modern Chinese medicine and snow tourism operations.

New Zealand firms should work through the 'Open Chengdu' overseas partner mechanism and prioritise distribution or technology licensing alongside local channel players, rather than setting up alone and forcing their way in. Rely on one-off chamber matchmaking with no follow-through service capability, and even signed intentions will struggle to land.

Keywords: NZ-China trade matchmaking conference, Chengdu, Auckland Business Chamber, Simon Bridges, sister cities, overseas partner plaque, company roadshow, direct air route resumption, opening up, trade and economic co-operation

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

9月7日，中国（成都）—新西兰经贸对接洽谈会在成都举行。新西兰奥克兰商会首席执行官西蒙·布里吉斯率涵盖生物医药、绿色建筑、食品工业、清洁能源、网络安全、冰雪旅游等领域企业访蓉。成都市工商联主席俞建致辞称，1996年成都与怀卡托大区建立友好合作关系，2015年与哈密尔顿市缔结友城，2024年成都至奥克兰直航复航。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

奥克兰商会访蓉代表团覆盖生物医药、绿色建筑、食品及清洁能源等多个领域，延续了新西兰对华出口从初级农产品向高附加值服务转型的趋势。成都至奥克兰直航复航后，西南市场冷链与商务往来成本下降，对麦卢卡蜂蜜、精品葡萄酒等中小品牌是进入二三线消费市场的窗口。但成都本地在清洁能源、现代中药及冰雪运营方面已有成熟供应链，新西兰企业须借助“开放成都”海外合作伙伴机制，优先与本地渠道商共建分销或技术授权，而非单独设点硬闯。

若仅依赖商会一次性对接，缺乏后续服务能力，签下的意向也难以落地。

关键词: 中新经贸对接洽谈会, 成都, 奥克兰商会, 西蒙·布里吉斯, 友好城市, 海外合作伙伴铭牌, 企业路演, 直航复航, 对外开放, 经贸合作

Source: People's Daily Online