New Zealand China Trade Association Announces New Chair

Media Release

11 February 2015

New Zealand China Trade Association Announces New Chair

New Zealand’s leading Chinese-New Zealand business and trade organisation, the New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA), has appointed DLA Phillips Fox partner Martin Thomson as its new Chairman.

Martin is an expert in foreign direct investment into New Zealand, the Overseas Investment Act and Chinese trade with and investment into the country. He is a member of DLA Phillips Fox’s China practice and advises a number of Chinese organisations with interests in New Zealand.

His clients are based in China, New Zealand and elsewhere around the globe.

The NZCTA (www.nzcta.co.nz) promotes and strengthens trade with and investment between New Zealand and the People’s Republic of China. It is an authoritative source of information and opinion on the subject for organisations seeking to trade, invest or understand the relationship between the two countries. The NZCTA has a large membership base of both New Zealand & Chinese companies.

“New Zealand has so much to gain from knowing and understanding China better,” says Mr Thomson. “While economies around the world, including the Chinese economy, have fluctuated in 2014, New Zealand is still experiencing demand from China.

“In trade and investment China can still find in New Zealand a willing seller and trader. There is also considerable room for foreign direct investment here. Australia is our largest in-bound investor with China only in the top ten by varying counts. There are opportunities for China here that will truly benefit New Zealand. We’ve seen that recently with direct flights opening up between China and New Zealand, Chinese airlines and banks are now here, and Chinese investment in manufacturing in New Zealand, particularly in dairy are increasing. There has even been recent investment in hotel development and infrastructure by Chinese investors.

“ And take tourism, for instance. A few years ago, in-bound Chinese tourism to New Zealand was somewhat confined to package tours of low value and variable quality. Nowadays, tourists from China come here independently and on tours. The whole experience of visiting New Zealand has been overhauled, and on the whole Chinese tourists enjoy the experience, the country and the people. Chinese tourists are now our second most important source of offshore visitors.

In addition, international students from China are on the rise again, boosting our student industry here. A report by Education New Zealand says that there has been a 12% increase in overall student numbers and in Chinese student numbers January to August 2014. As well as bringing revenue directly, students studying in New Zealand bring long term benefits to the country. When they have a wonderful time here, they remember it in adulthood, and are more inclined to invest in New Zealand or do business with us.

“All of this augurs well for New Zealand. It says: a country outside our own has faith in our economy.”

In addition to appointing a new Chairman, Johnathan Chen (James & Wells), Nick Aubrey (New Zealand Light Leathers) and Clarke Schaumann (ANZ Bank) have been voted onto the Executive as new Committee members. For a current list of the NZCTA Executive, please see http://www.nzcta.co.nz/executive/

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