China

Former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley wants New Zealand firms to take advantage of her appointment to the board of the Boao Forum, which is made up of global political and commercial leaders, to seek business opportunities in Asia. Shipley was appointed to the board last month at the forum, which is focused on setting up the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative to …

The acquisition of Kawarau Village  – including five star Hilton Hotel and 4.5 star Kawarau Hotel is Pengxin’s first investment in NZ tourism. After months preparation, Kawarau Hotel is rebranded as Double Tree Hotel, which is sub brand of Hilton Group. Near 100 people gathered to celebrate the opening of the first Double Tree In New Zealand. Zhaobai Jiang,chairman of Shanghai …

HSBC has singled out five macro themes for 2015. With disinflationary pressure rising, we lower our GDP and inflation forecasts for 2015 and 2016. Beijing will likely step up policy easing to stabilise the economy. We also expect the pace of key reforms to accelerate Both economic activity and inflation data have been weaker than we anticipated in recent months, suggesting rising …

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has officially opened the Shanghai office of Primary Collaboration New Zealand (PCNZ) – a coalition of New Zealand food and beverage companies pooling their expertise in China. Joyce, who is currently visiting Shanghai to foster business ties between New Zealand and China, says the new premises will provide a boost to the export ambitions of …

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 out …

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 as …

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 …