Export Mission To Canton Fair

Media Release

From: Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) and NZ China Trade Association

13th December 2007

Export Mission To Canton Fair Leverages Off FTA Profile

Exporters have a gilt-edged opportunity to exhibit their products in China at a time when New Zealand's profile there will be at an all-time high.

An export focused trade mission to the world famous Canton Fair is scheduled to coincide with the conclusion of the NZ/China Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

The 103rd Fair to be held in Guangzhou in April 2008 will give exporters a one-off opportunity to leverage off the high profile this will create.

New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA) in partnership with the Employers' and Manufacturers' Association Northern (EMA) has secured the New Zealand agency from the Canton Fair organisers enabling them to offer stands or exhibition space to exporters at the International Pavilion.

Supported by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Export New Zealand and other business associations, NZCTA and EMA are organising a programme of meetings and briefings for the mission in Guangzhou and major cities in the Pearl River Delta which are important actual and potential trading partners.

"This is the very first export focused Mission from New Zealand to the Canton Fair" said EMA Chief Executive, Alasdair Thompson.

"The Fair is well established as one of the great world trade fairs. It's been going twice a year for over 50 years and nowadays attracts around 200,000 international buyers each time, as well as hundreds of thousands of local buyers," Mr Thompson said.

NZCTA and EMA are seeking expressions of interest from exporters with an information meeting will be held early in the New Year.

"We've brought together a powerful team to take advantage of this huge opportunity" said NZCTA Chairman, Stuart Ferguson. "We are promoting the opportunity nationwide.

"A welcome bonus is NZTE has agreed to host a New Zealand Inc stand at the Fair.

"We're also receiving substantial assistance in our planning from the Chinese Consulate General and the Confucius Institute."

Ends

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