New Zealand firms eye multi-sector cooperation in Chongqing matchmaking visit

Summary

The China (Chongqing)-New Zealand Economic and Trade Matchmaking Conference was held in Chongqing on September 14, drawing a group of New Zealand companies seeking to expand cooperation with Chongqing counterparts in agriculture, tourism, the ice and snow economy and construction technology. Sarah Samawati, director of the skincare division at New Zealand Totika Health Co. , Ltd.

, said she hoped to connect with Chinese skincare and food distributors and investors, expand the company's skincare and honey export markets and build lasting partnerships with local firms. Simon Bridges, chief executive of the New Zealand Auckland Chamber of Commerce, said about 20 business representatives made the trip, covering a wide range of industries, and that the companies taking part were optimistic about cooperation prospects with Chongqing. Jiang Yiming, general manager of New Zealand CMJ International Co.

, Ltd. , said he hoped to advance more projects in venue construction and operation, helping Chongqing's ice and snow economy upgrade towards 'all-region, all-season, high-end'. Ye Lina, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Commerce Commission, said economic and trade exchanges between Chongqing and New Zealand are becoming increasingly close.

She hoped to deepen two-way trade in consumer goods and cross-border e-commerce cooperation, expand cooperation in agricultural science and technology and industrial chains, and promote green, low-carbon and infrastructure cooperation. New Zealand's high-quality dairy products, beef and mutton and health supplements are deeply loved by Chongqing consumers, she said, while Chongqing's high-end motorcycles, quality agricultural machinery and specialty foods are also highly favoured by New Zealand consumers.

Commentary

New Zealand companies' matchmaking visit to Chongqing suggests China's western market is shifting from traditional bulk trade towards high-value-added consumer goods and professional services. Since the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement was upgraded, tariffs on New Zealand agricultural products such as honey and dairy have been cut to zero, but non-tariff barriers remain the key hurdle: honey must meet China's import inspection, quarantine and labelling requirements, and Manuka honey also has to address counterfeiting on the market; skincare products must complete registration with the National Medical Products Administration, and small and medium-sized brands usually need to work through local distributors to reduce compliance costs. Totika Health's search for distributors and investment follows exactly that path.

CMJ International, by contrast, is targeting Chongqing's ice and snow economy. China's ice and snow industry is expected to exceed one trillion yuan in scale by 2025, and southern cities are accelerating the construction of indoor ski resorts, with specific needs in venue design, operation and all-season renovation. New Zealand's alpine tourism and ski resort management experience can be exported, but it needs to be adapted to local joint venture or franchise models to avoid the 'experience transplant' problem of not fitting local conditions.

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce is leading about 20 companies on the visit, covering multiple industries, indicating that New Zealand SMEs are trying to expand from bulk categories such as dairy and beef and lamb into niche areas such as honey, skincare products and ice and snow services. The Chongqing Municipal Commerce Commission's proposal to deepen two-way trade in consumer goods and cross-border e-commerce cooperation also gives New Zealand brands a channel to reach the southwestern market via Chongqing's cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zone. However, companies still need to work through these compliance requirements.

Keywords: New Zealand, Chongqing, Economic and Trade Matchmaking Conference, Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Cross-border E-commerce, Ice and Snow Economy, Dairy Products, Honey, Sarah Samawati, Ye Lina

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

中国（重庆）—新西兰经贸对接会9月14日在重庆举行，多家新西兰企业赴渝开展经贸对接，希望拓展与重庆企业在农业、旅游、冰雪经济、建筑技术等领域合作。新西兰托蒂卡健康有限公司肌肤护理事业部董事莎拉·萨马瓦蒂表示，希望与中国的护肤品和食品经销商、投资者建立联系，扩大公司护肤品和蜂蜜出口市场，并与当地企业建立持久合作伙伴关系。新西兰奥克兰商会首席执行官西蒙·布里吉斯称，此行有约20位企业代表参访重庆，涵盖诸多行业，与会企业看好与重庆合作前景。

新西兰CMJ国际有限公司总经理姜懿明表示，希望在场馆建设、运营等方面推动更多项目落地，助力重庆冰雪经济向“全域、四季、高端化”升级。重庆市商务委员会副主任叶力娜说，重庆与新西兰经贸往来日益密切，希望深化消费品双向贸易与跨境电商合作、拓展农业科技与产业链合作、推动绿色低碳与基础设施合作。她举例说，新西兰优质乳制品、牛羊肉、保健品深受重庆消费者喜爱，重庆高端摩托车、优质农机、特色食品也深得新西兰消费者青睐。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

新西兰企业此次赴渝对接，显示中国西部市场正从传统大宗贸易转向高附加值消费品与专业服务。中新自贸协定升级后，新西兰蜂蜜、乳制品等农产品关税已降至零，但非关税壁垒仍是关键：蜂蜜需满足中国进口检验检疫及标签要求，麦卢卡蜂蜜还需应对市场仿冒；护肤品则须完成国家药监局备案，中小品牌通常需借本地经销商降低合规成本。托蒂卡健康寻求经销商与投资，正是这一路径。

另一方面，CMJ国际瞄准重庆冰雪经济，背后是中国冰雪产业规模预计2025年破万亿元，南方城市加速建设室内滑雪场，对场馆设计、运营和四季化改造有具体需求——新西兰的高山旅游与雪场管理经验可输出，但需适应本地合资或特许经营模式，避免“经验移植”水土不服。奥克兰商会率约20家企业参访，涵盖多行业，说明新西兰中小企业正尝试从乳制品、牛羊肉等大宗品类，拓展至蜂蜜、护肤品、冰雪服务等细分领域。重庆商务委提出深化消费品双向贸易与跨境电商合作，也为新西兰品牌提供了借道重庆跨境电商综试区辐射西南市场的通道。

不过，企业需评估物流成本、付款条件和本地化团队投入，如通过重庆进口肉类指定口岸或保税仓降低库存风险。新西兰华商俱乐部参与，也凸显华人网络在连接两地中小企业中的作用。对NZ SME而言，此次对接更像一次市场测试，实际落地须以具体订单和合规进度为衡量，而非仅凭政策热度。

关键词: 新西兰, 重庆, 经贸对接会, 奥克兰商会, 跨境电商, 冰雪经济, 乳制品, 蜂蜜, 莎拉·萨马瓦蒂, 叶力娜

Source: Tencent