Multinationals Dialogue with Sichuan Draws NZ Firms to Chengdu

Summary

The Multinationals Dialogue with Sichuan (New Zealand Session) was held in Chengdu on 8 September, co-hosted by the Sichuan Provincial Economic Cooperation Bureau, the Auckland Business Chamber and the New Zealand Chinese Business Club. The event followed up on outcomes from the May meeting in Chengdu between Sichuan Governor Shi Xiaolin and New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister McClay. More than 20 New Zealand companies organised by the Auckland Business Chamber and the New Zealand Chinese Business Club attended, alongside over 50 representatives from relevant Sichuan cities (prefectures), key outbound enterprises and business associations.

Matchmaking focused on New Zealand's strengths in agricultural products, food, clean energy and cultural creativity. During the exchange session, the Sichuan Provincial Economic Cooperation Bureau introduced Sichuan's profile and cooperation opportunities with New Zealand; Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges introduced the Chamber; and New Zealand Chinese Business Club Chairman Dr Yang Jian introduced New Zealand-Sichuan exchanges and the delegation's visit. Representatives from the Auckland Business Chamber, the New Zealand Chinese Business Club, Fonterra and Alpha Group exchanged views with Sichuan departments and cities including the Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, the Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangyuan and Neijiang.

In 2023, total goods imports and exports between Sichuan and New Zealand reached RMB 1.45 billion; in the first seven months of this year, two-way trade exceeded RMB 900 million, with Sichuan exporting RMB 460 million to New Zealand and importing RMB 480 million from New Zealand. To date, New Zealand companies have established 46 foreign-invested enterprises (institutions) in Sichuan, with cumulative foreign direct investment of USD 16.84 million. Key Sichuan enterprises and industry associations including Shudao Group, Sichuan Energy Investment Group, Sichuan Commercial Investment Group, Runzhao Fisheries and the Chengdu Cross-Border E-Commerce Association also took part in point-to-point discussions covering agriculture, food, energy, pharmaceuticals, logistics and cross-border e-commerce.

New Zealand was the first Western developed country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation document, and the two sides have strong complementarity in resources, markets and industrial chains.

Commentary

The Sichuan-New Zealand trade matchmaking event offers a concrete pathway for New Zealand SMEs to enter China's southwestern market. The participation of major companies such as Fonterra and Alpha Group shows that New Zealand's advantaged industries still have room to expand in China, but the bigger opportunities for SMEs lie in niche segments. As a key economic hub in western China, Sichuan's GDP exceeded RMB 6 trillion in 2023, with a vast consumer market, and Chengdu is building itself into an international consumption centre city, driving growing demand for high-quality New Zealand food and agricultural products.

However, New Zealand SMEs should note that competition in the Chinese market is intense, with Australian and EU products also vying for share. This matchmaking covered non-traditional areas such as clean energy and cultural creativity, indicating that the scope of cooperation is broadening. New Zealand companies should make good use of channels built by organisations such as the Auckland Business Chamber, but must also prepare for localisation, such as understanding Chinese e-commerce platform rules and establishing cold-chain logistics partnerships.

Sichuan imported RMB 480 million from New Zealand and exported RMB 460 million, a relatively balanced trade relationship, but the total volume remains small, suggesting that potential has yet to be fully realised. New Zealand SMEs could look to policies of the Sichuan Pilot Free Trade Zone, particularly the cross-border e-commerce retail import pilot, to reduce market entry costs. At the same time, cultural and creative industry cooperation could become a new growth area, though cultural differences and intellectual property protection issues need to be overcome.

Keywords: Multinationals Dialogue with Sichuan, New Zealand Session, Chengdu, Auckland Business Chamber, New Zealand Chinese Business Club, economic and trade cooperation, total imports and exports, foreign-invested enterprises, Sichuan Provincial Economic Cooperation Bureau, Belt and Road

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

跨国公司对话四川（新西兰专场）活动9月8日在成都举行，由四川省经济合作局联合奥克兰商会、新西兰华商俱乐部共同主办，旨在落实今年5月四川省省长施小琳在成都与新西兰贸易与投资部长麦克莱会见时形成的有关成果。奥克兰商会、新西兰华商俱乐部组织的20余家新西兰本土企业参加，四川有关市（州）、重点出海企业和商协会代表50余人到场，对接内容覆盖农产品、食品、清洁能源、文化创意等新西兰优势产业。交流环节中，四川省经济合作局介绍四川省情及川新合作机遇，奥克兰商会首席执行官西蒙·布里吉斯介绍奥克兰商会情况，新西兰华商俱乐部主席杨健博士介绍新川交往及此次代表团访川情况；奥克兰商会、新西兰华商俱乐部以及恒天然、安发国际等企业代表，与四川省外事办、省中医药管理局、广元市、内江市等部门和市（州）展开交流。

2023年四川与新西兰货物进出口总额达14.5亿元；今年前7个月双方进出口总额已超过9亿元，其中四川对新西兰出口4.6亿元，自新西兰进口4.8亿元。截至目前，新西兰企业在四川累计设立外商投资企业（机构）46家，外商直接投资累计到资1684万美元。蜀道集团、省能发集团、省商投集团、润兆渔业、成都市跨境电子商务协会等四川重点合作企业和行业协会也参与点对点沟通，覆盖农业、食品、能源、医药、物流、跨境电商等方向。

新西兰是首个签署“一带一路”合作文件的西方发达国家，双方在资源、市场和产业链上互补性较强。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

四川与新西兰的经贸对接活动，为新西兰中小企业进入中国西南市场提供了具体路径。恒天然、安发国际等大型企业的参与，表明新西兰优势产业在中国仍有拓展空间，但中小企业的机会更在于细分领域。四川作为中国西部经济枢纽，2023年GDP超6万亿元，消费市场庞大，且成都正建设国际消费中心城市，对新西兰高品质食品、农产品需求增长。

然而，新西兰中小企业需注意，中国市场竞争激烈，澳大利亚、欧盟产品也在争夺份额。此次对接覆盖清洁能源、文化创意等非传统领域，显示合作范围在拓宽。新西兰企业应利用好奥克兰商会等机构搭建的渠道，但也要做好本地化准备，如了解中国电商平台规则、建立冷链物流合作。

四川对新西兰进口4.8亿元，出口4.6亿元，贸易相对平衡，但总量仍小，说明潜力尚未充分释放。新西兰中小企业可关注四川自贸试验区政策，尤其是跨境电商零售进口试点，降低市场进入成本。同时，文化创意产业合作可能成为新增长点，但需克服文化差异和知识产权保护问题。

关键词: 跨国公司对话四川, 新西兰专场, 成都, 奥克兰商会, 新西兰华商俱乐部, 经贸合作, 进出口总额, 外商投资企业, 四川省经济合作局, 一带一路

Source: None