7 May 2019

Local tech, innovation to be showcased to visiting business, investors, civic leaders

SUMMARY

• Auckland is hosting Los Angeles and Guangzhou business and civic leaders this month for the Tripartite 2019 event, during Techweek19.

• The event is part of the five-year-old Tripartite Economic Alliance, between Auckland and its long-term partner cities.

• The alliance was forged to boost economic, trade and investment opportunities between the three cities and deepen Auckland’s connections with two of the economic powerhouses in the Asia-Pacific region.

• The event is timed to coincide with Techweek19, to show delegates the strength and breadth of Auckland’s tech and creative sectors, including tech investment opportunities.

Auckland will welcome Los Angeles and Guangzhou investors, business and civic leaders this month, for the Tripartite 2019 event, during Techweek19.

The event is part of the five-year-old Tripartite Economic Alliance, between Auckland and its long-term partner cities, forged to boost economic, trade and investment opportunities between the three cities and deepen Auckland’s connections with two of the economic powerhouses in the Asia-Pacific region.

As part of its combined Tripartite 2019 and Techweek19 programme, the event will feature international speakers and panellists in an innovation showcase, discussing topics such as new trends in public/private sector data sharing, digital tech in creative storytelling, and using tech to trace food quality and provenance.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the Tripartite Economic Alliance has been an important mechanism for the cities to exchange information and opportunities.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says, “The Tripartite Economic Alliance has strengthened Auckland’s relationships with China and the US. It has delivered multi-million-dollar business deals for Auckland and New Zealand businesses, created jobs and economic growth in our city.

“As New Zealand’s international city, Auckland supports local businesses to grow offshore. For Auckland companies like Ohmio Automation and Methven NZ who have secured multi-million-dollar deals at past tripartite events, this year’s meeting will be an opportunity for new and innovative Kiwi businesses to potentially recognise their international dreams.

“China and US are critical markets for Auckland and New Zealand’s economic growth. I look forward to welcoming the delegations from Guangzhou and Los Angeles during Techweek and showcasing Auckland’s innovation and creativity,” says Phil Goff.

Tripartite 2019 will also feature networking and business matching, pitching sessions for Auckland businesses to present their opportunities to international investors, site visits to Auckland’s screen post-production facilities, and options to connect with the region’s Māori businesses and heritage.

Pam Ford is General Manager Economic Development for Auckland Tourism, Event and Economic Development (ATEED), which delivers the Tripartite Economic Alliance business programme on behalf of the Auckland Council family.

“Ultimately, the Tripartite events have always been about relationships, and Auckland Council’s approach has been to develop a comprehensive programme that allows our world-class businesses to springboard into two massive markets, whilst at the same time showcasing our innovation and investment opportunities to the two cities.

“We’re excited to bring together some of our cities’ leading thinkers on public innovation, to discuss how technology, smart use of publicly available data and how public and private sector collaboration can improve our cities and the lives of the people who live and work in them.

“ATEED is committed to inclusive development and growing quality jobs for all Aucklanders. We look forward to some thought-provoking Tripartite 2019 discussions on how cities are using technology to achieve higher productivity, greater yield and profitability. We will be sharing how our young Māori and Pacific Island people are using tech platforms and their cultural identities to create and innovate,” says Pam Ford.

ATEED and Auckland Council have timed Tripartite 2019 to align with Techweek19, to show delegates from our partner cities the strength and breadth of Auckland’s tech and creative sectors, including tech investment opportunities.

Techweek, co-founded by ATEED and NZTech, is the largest tech-focused event in New Zealand, showcasing the country’s rapidly growing tech and innovation sectors. In 2018, 100 tech-related events were held in Auckland alone (540 across New Zealand) with more than 20,000 participants.

Auckland is home to almost half of New Zealand’s tech firms and labour force. Auckland’s tech businesses contribute more than $9 billion a year in gross domestic product (GDP) and support more than 65,000 jobs.

NZTech Chief Executive Graeme Muller says that Techweek19 puts the focus on one of the country’s biggest and most exciting sectors.

“New Zealand is full of big dreamers, smart collaborators and ingenious thinkers, and this year we celebrate those people and their projects, as well as encouraging diversity and inclusion in tech. We welcome the chance to show the international Tripartite delegates what’s happening at the forefront of tech here, and to hear how tech is enabling inclusion and diversity internationally.”

Tripartite delegates will participate in a tech and innovation programme aligned with Techweek19. Delegate companies have a range of goals, including entering the US, China or New Zealand markets with expert local partners, discovering the perfect supplier, or finding their next research and development partner or investment opportunity.

Tripartite 2019 is delivered by ATEED and Auckland Council in partnership with Bank of New Zealand and Precinct Properties, with the support of entities including New Zealand government agencies, the Consulates-General of the US and China, Asia New Zealand, Auckland’s Whāriki Māori Business Network, and Auckland screen companies.

More information on the public Tripartite 2019 sessions and more information about Techweek19.

NOTES TO EDITOR

Tripartite 2019 is part of the Tripartite Economic Alliance, first signed by Auckland and its long-term partner cities Los Angeles and Guangzhou in 2014 and renewed in 2017.
Tripartite 2019 has been timed to align with Techweek19, mirroring the agreement between the cities to move from an annual summit for the initial three years of the alliance to aligning Tripartite activity to existing trade and innovation events in those cities. This new model was demonstrated successfully in Los Angeles in May 2018 during the 2018 Select LA Investment Summit.
The cities take turns hosting the annual meetings, with 2019 being Auckland’s turn to host.
The alliance itself is a global example of innovation. It has strengthened Auckland’s connections with two globally-important partner cities while gaining international recognition as a blueprint for city-to-city collaboration.
Partner cities have programme of work to support shared strategic goals in the areas of economic development, foreign trade, innovation, investment and city building.
Los Angeles and Guangzhou are two of Auckland’s oldest and most significant city partnerships. Guangzhou and Auckland celebrate the 30th anniversary of their relationship this year, which will be marked during Tripartite 2019. (Los Angeles and Auckland have been partner cities for 48 years.)
The Guangzhou and Los Angeles delegations will include representatives from a diverse range of tech-related sectors. About 85 and 20 delegates are expected from Guangzhou and LA respectively, and about 260 Auckland delegates are registered to take part.

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