Sichuan, New Zealand Firms Meet in Chengdu for Trade Matchmaking

Summary

A China (Sichuan)-New Zealand business matchmaking event was held in Chengdu on 8 September 2026, co-hosted by the Sichuan Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT Sichuan), the Sichuan Chamber of International Commerce, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the New Zealand Chinese Business Club. Fan Jun, vice-chairman of CCPIT Sichuan, Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and Yang Jian, chairman of the New Zealand Chinese Business Club, attended. Fifty-six companies from both countries held on-site matchmaking talks.

In his address, Fan said Sichuan and New Zealand have complementary industries and strong foundations for cooperation, and urged companies to seize opportunities arising from the comprehensive strategic partnership, the Belt and Road Initiative and RCEP dividends. CCPIT Sichuan would work with New Zealand's business community to lift trade and economic cooperation to a new level, he said. New Zealand companies in construction, health, tourism and wine presented their core businesses and cooperation needs.

During the matchmaking session, organisers arranged targeted meetings for 37 Sichuan companies from food and beverage, cultural tourism and biotechnology, based on the New Zealand firms' sectors and China cooperation needs. Representatives of New Zealand's Misty Cove Wines and other firms said they hoped to use the Sichuan Chamber of International Commerce's broad membership base, particularly its regular contacts with supermarkets such as Hongqi and Laolinju, to open sales channels in Sichuan for New Zealand red wine. Sichuan Aifente Intelligent Technology Co and New Zealand's Nuwa Trading Ltd discussed exporting buses and intelligent equipment to New Zealand and said they would follow up on possible cooperation.

Staff from the international liaison department and the Sichuan Chamber of International Commerce attended.

Commentary

The Sichuan-New Zealand matchmaking event offers New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprises a concrete route into China's western market. As a western economic centre with a population of more than 80 million and a fast-growing consumer market, Sichuan has strong demand for high-quality New Zealand products in food and beverage, cultural tourism and other sectors. New Zealand wine exports to China have fluctuated in recent years, but premium white wines and Pinot Noir still have room to grow in second-tier cities such as Chengdu.

Misty Cove Wines' attempt to use local supermarket channels reflects a pragmatic strategy by smaller New Zealand wineries to bypass fierce competition in first-tier cities and move into regional markets. On the other side, Sichuan companies exporting buses and intelligent equipment to New Zealand show that trade is shifting from the traditional one-way flow of agricultural products towards two-way technology cooperation, with RCEP tariff reductions on machinery and electrical products facilitating such trade. New Zealand SMEs should watch consumption upgrading and industrial policy in China's western provinces, use local trade promotion council resources to lower market entry costs, and remain alert to the channel management challenges posed by regional market differences.

Keywords: China (Sichuan)-New Zealand Trade Matchmaking Event, CCPIT Sichuan, Auckland Chamber of Commerce, New Zealand Chinese Business Club, Shu Yi Shu Er Salon, RCEP, New Zealand red wine, intelligent equipment exports, Chengdu

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

2026年9月8日，由四川省贸促会、四川国际商会与新西兰奥克兰商会、新西兰华商俱乐部共同举办的蜀一蜀二沙龙：中国（四川）—新西兰经贸对接会在成都举办。省贸促会副会长范军、奥克兰商会CEO西蒙、新西兰华商俱乐部主席杨健出席活动，来自中新两国56家企业现场对接洽谈、共寻合作机遇。范军在致辞中表示，四川与新西兰产业互补，合作基础好、潜力大，希望双方企业紧抓两国全面战略伙伴关系、共建“一带一路”、RCEP红利持续释放等机遇，以经贸合作为核心纽带深化两地各领域合作，四川省贸促会将与新西兰工商界一道发挥联通政企、融通内外、畅通供需的职能优势，携手推动川新经贸合作再上新台阶。

会上，来自建筑、健康、旅游、葡萄酒等领域的新西兰企业推介了核心业务和合作需求；在对接洽谈环节，主办方结合新方企业领域和对华合作需求，针对性组织37家来自食品饮料、文创旅游、生物科技等行业的四川企业现场对接。其中，新西兰雾湾酒庄等企业代表希望借助四川国际商会广泛的会员基础，特别是与红旗、老邻居等商超的日常联系，帮助新西兰红酒打开四川销售渠道；四川艾芬特智能科技有限公司与新西兰Nuwa Trading Ltd围绕客车、智能装备出口新西兰市场开展交流，表示将进一步跟进对接，探讨具体合作可能性。国际联络部、四川国际商会有关人员参加上述活动。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

四川与新西兰的经贸对接会为新西兰中小企业提供了进入中国西部市场的具体路径。四川作为中国西部经济中心，拥有超8000万人口和快速增长的消费市场，其食品饮料、文创旅游等行业对新西兰高品质产品需求旺盛。新西兰葡萄酒行业近年来对华出口波动，但高端白葡萄酒和黑皮诺在成都等二线城市仍有增长空间，雾湾酒庄借助四川本地商超渠道的尝试，反映了新西兰中小酒庄绕开一线城市激烈竞争、下沉区域市场的务实策略。

另一方面，四川企业向新西兰出口客车和智能装备，显示中新贸易正从传统的农产品单向流动转向双向技术合作，RCEP框架下机电产品关税减免为这类贸易提供了便利。新西兰中小企业应关注中国西部省份的消费升级和产业政策，利用地方贸促会的对接资源降低市场进入成本，同时警惕区域市场差异带来的渠道管理挑战。

关键词: 中国（四川）—新西兰经贸对接会, 四川省贸促会, 奥克兰商会, 新西兰华商俱乐部, 蜀一蜀二沙龙, RCEP, 新西兰红酒, 智能装备出口, 成都

Source: Sichuan International Chamber of Commerce