Hitachi Official and Residential Delegation Visit - November 2007
An official and residential delegation from Hitachi comprising over 30 people visited Tauranga between 14 and 18 November 2007.
As well as seeing the sights of our city, the official delegation will had the opportunity to learn more about Tauranga's economic development and trade opportunities.
Objectives including increased product promotion between the two cities are being finalised now. Please contact us if you would like more information on how to leverage Tauranga's Sister City relationship as an entry strategy to the Japanese market.
Yantai Fishery Bureau Visit - December 2007
Visitors from the Yantai Fishery Bureau are visited Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty between 4 and 11 December 2007.
Export NZ Bay of Plenty hosted the delegation for their duration. The delegation were keen to look at aquaculture initiatives in the Bay of Plenty region. With a huge aquaculture infrastructure in Yantai, there is much we can learn from their technology and experience.
The Opotiki News article contained here tells more about the opportunities and outcomes of this visit.
Key Objectives of Trade Delegation
A fact finding mission to…
- Assess how your product or service can fit in the China market
- Assess competitor activity. Experience the rapid development of the Chinese economy and appreciate how this may impact on your current export markets
- Understand what business models work best in China – joint ventures, other?
- Explore the possibility of manufacturing in China
- Experience first-hand the Chinese way of building business relationships!
Trade Delegation Details
An invitation to attend this trade delegation was sent to all Export New Zealand members, Food BOP and advertised in the Chamber of Commerce magazine – The Enterprise.
A total of 12 businesses declared initial interest in joining the delegation. Businesses who dropped out felt that it was a little too soon for their business and expressed interest in attending future trade missions to Yantai/China.
Trade Delegation Outcomes
• Identified specific products suitable for the Chinese market
• A better understanding of the types of niche markets available for specific products
• Identified a number of important contacts in China that will be important in the future
• Ideas on packaging that can be used in the domestic market
• Ideas on new product lines for the domestic market
• Identified possible distribution channels for niche market product
• Valuable experience to compare conceptions of China with the actual situation. The level of sophistication and the amazing growth of the infrastructure was a lesson in itself
• Identified possible distribution channels for niche market and hotel chains.
• The CNG market in Shangdong Province is poised for significant growth; the fuel is well supported by the local government and halves the operating costs for small vehicles
• The mission provided excellent facilities (translators/hotels/transport) to save considerable time in making contacts and coordinating effective meetings.
• Opportunities for licensed outsourcing or manufacturing in China is being assessed to meet the demand from this market.
Tauranga Girls College -Yantai Tauranga High School Relationship
The Yantai Foreign Affairs office is very interested in establishing school links with Tauranga. There is also opportunity to develop this link with a specific school to establish a more formal ‘Sister City School’ relationship. Contact details for the appropriate Yantai representative have been passed on to Tauranga Girls College.
Food & Wine Expo – September 2007
The delegation visited the huge expo site . This site attracts Food and Wine manufacturers and distributors from greater China. As part of the Sister City relationship. Tauranga food and wine suppliers, manufacturers, distributors are able to exhibit here free of charge. An invitation to this event will be sent to all Export New Zealand members and via Food BOP.
Delegation members concluded that this Expo was not suitable for showcasing their products as they believe that their niche products would be better suited to the Gift or health food expos.
General Observations
The trade delegation outcomes that were not directly related to individual objectives but nevertheless insightful were:
The Rate of Economic Progress:
- The amount of new buildings being constructed and the rate of progress
- Preparation for the Olympics is happening at an extraordinary rate. Full grown trees are planted along city streets in an attempt to “green” Beijing (i.e. the ability to amass labour is phenomenal)
- Experiencing this rapid development gave delegation members a first-hand appreciation of how this may impact on their current business – regardless of whether or not they choose China to export to China.
Yantai Sister City Relationship
Attendees felt that benefits and insight received through the Yantai Sister City Relationship provided an excellent entrée in Chinese culture and understanding business relationships. After the Yantai experience delegation members felt that were better equipped to manage and enjoy their Beijing experiences.
Development of Relationships Valuable to Tauranga Businesses
The delegation was introduced to business contacts that will have an ongoing benefit to Tauranga businesses who are interested in doing business in China.
- Small business consultancy
- Food & beverage Distributors
A trade mission to Yantai is being planned for April/May 2008.
Click here to find out about the information session being held on Friday 15th of February 2008!