30 May 2023

Over a week in early May, we led our first business delegation to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen since the easing of pandemic measures in China earlier this year. Nine emerging and established New Zealand tech-business leaders spent one week in the Greater Bay Area visiting companies, engaging with experts and New Zealand officials, visiting regional economic offices, and attending in the massive Asia AR/VR Fair in Guangzhou.

The nine delegates came from across Aotearoa New Zealand, and represented various tech industries from AR/VR, gaming, education, software development, and social media solutions.

Prior to the trip the delegates participated in three educational orientation sessions, delivered by specialists from the University of Auckland Business School, New Zealand Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, and North Asia CAPE. The sessions provided economic, political, and cultural background on China and the Greater Bay Area, and China’s history and connections with New Zealand.

While in-market we had the privilege to be welcomed by representatives of NZ Inc. at the New Zealand Consulates in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. The delegates particularly valued hearing and learning from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise representatives and New Zealand tech entrepreneurs based in China.

Another highlight was visiting established Kiwi businesses such as Zuru, which has achieved great success in the Chinese market, in addition to Chinese technology companies developing innovative and globally leading technologies such as Baidu and the Chali Group.

We were also hosted by regional economic departments and representatives of universities in Hong Kong and China, who shared their insights into the region and opportunities for international businesses hoping to establish themselves.

After a week of intense activity, the group returned to New Zealand keen to develop their next steps to explore these diverse markets.

We also returned feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to develop connections with one another, and for the warm reception we enjoyed from the wider New Zealand community offshore, which made the trip so rewarding and valuable.