New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff will lead a major trade
mission to Shanghai and Beijing in November to coincide with the
launch of the first direct air service between New Zealand and
China.
"Air New Zealand will be launching a direct air service to
Shanghai on November 6 and around 60 New Zealand business people
will join me on that flight," said Goff Sunday.
He said China is New Zealand's fourth largest trading partner
and this mission offers a unique opportunity to get a first hand
understanding of what is involved in leveraging the full potential
of dynamic market.
Two-way trade between the two countries is currently worth over
6 billion NZ dollars (US$3.7 billion) a year and is set to grow
even more once the Free Trade Agreement the two sides are working
toward is complete.
Goff said the mission will build the knowledge and understanding
New Zealand businesses have of the Chinese market and their
connections with it.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise will host a seminar in Shanghai
where in-market experts will provide mission delegates practical
understanding of the way in which they should approach the Chinese
market and some of the challenges they may face.
Mission members will also take the opportunity to have business
contacts both in Shanghai and Beijing and to get first hand
exposure to New Zealand companies who are doing business in China
and to Chinese importers of New Zealand products.
(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2006)
