China

BusinessDesk  Nuplex Industries, the specialty chemicals manufacturer, is exploring more investment opportunities across Asia, having shifted its businesses away from the firm’s traditional markets in Australia and New Zealand.  The Auckland-based company officially opened a US$35 million plant in China’s Changshu, and is already considering expansion plans for the site, where it holds a 50-year lease. The company was caught …

BusinessDesk  A group of New Zealand primary sector firms has opened a joint marketing office in Shanghai, completing a three-year gestation to make life easier in breaking into the world’s second biggest economy.  Primary Collaboration New Zealand officially opened its office in one of China’s major cities yesterday in what chairman Andy Borland hopes will give local firms a foothold in what’s seen …

Kiwa Digital Ltd (KIWA), a world leading production house for experiential digital books based in New Zealand, is to deliver interactive cartoon stories to mobile devices in China. In a breakthrough international publishing and licensing agreement with leading Chinese television company, Beijing Kaku Media, KIWA will bring popular children’s characters to life digitally in the Chinese language. The agreement was …

Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world’s largest dairy exporter, has acquired 18.8 percent of Shenzen-listed Beingmate Baby & Child Food, falling short of the stake of up to 20 percent it was seeking in a partial tender offer. The transaction, valued at 3,464 million RMB (NZ$755 million) is well above the $615 million Fonterra indicated it would cost for a 20 percent …

Economic reform in China, one of New Zealand’s largest trading partners accounting for 22 percent of exports, is a lower priority than trying to save the future of the Communist party, according to Wall Street Journal columnist Andy Browne.  Speaking at a WSJ-organised event in Auckland on the future of New Zealand-China relations, Browne said the Chinese economy, the world’s second largest, is under …

The Ministry for Primary Industries and Zespri International, the world’s largest kiwifruit marketer, are monitoring reports that staff at a Chinese company that imports a number of New Zealand’s primary sector products have been arrested in a crackdown by Chinese Customs.  According to a National Business Review report, nine staff at Dalian Yidu are understood to have been arrested in …

Kiwi scientist Dr Phil Rolston has been awarded the Chinese Government’s most prestigious science prize for his work in grasslands seed development.  Dr Rolston, Senior Scientist at AgResearch Lincoln, received the award at a ceremony in The Great Hall of the People which was attended by President Xi Jinping, Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, and Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang. …

Synlait Milk, which plans to take a quarter-stake in Sichuan New Hope Nutritional Foods Co to gain a direct interest in a Chinese infant formula brand, has talked down the threat of dry conditions in Canterbury, saying its farmer suppliers have reliable access to irrigation water. The Rakaia-based milk processor hasn’t seen a drop in milk production as parts of …

Bank of China (NZ)  signed MOU with two of New Zealand’s best known companies; Air New Zealand and NZX. The signing of the memorandum with NZX was included as part of the official state visit to New Zealand this week by China’s President Xi Jinping. Both the Chinese President and John Key witnessed the signing at a function in Karaka, South Auckland. Bank …

Xi Visit  The world’s 7th largest bank*, the Bank of China announced that it has been granted its banking licence from the Reserve Bank of  and will formally launch its business at a special ceremony in Auckland on Friday. The granting of the banking licence will allow the Bank of China to meet the growing demand for the significant reciprocal trade opportunities between New Zealand and …