Chinese trade
Last week Prime Minister John Key was in China discussing trade and the future of our exports.
The trip was a huge success and reinforced the importance of New Zealand’s link with China as our major trading partner.
This was personified by Prime Minister John Key and Chinese President Xi Jinping setting an ambitious new goal for two-way trade of $30 billion by 2020. Currently our two way trade is worth over $18 billion, so it’s an ambitious but achievable target.
An agreement was also signed allowing direct trading of the New Zealand dollar against the Chinese renminbi. This will make doing business with China easier by reducing the costs of converting between the two currencies, and will stimulate trade and investment.
The importance of China to our economy has strong roots in our local area.
We have a strong, multicultural community. Chinese ancestry has become a hallmark of the region’s identity and economy. This is apparent in the strength of the market garden businesses that are vital to the horticultural industry of the whole of the lower North Island.
This influence is symbolised by the bronze market gardener statue in Levin. This statue was unveiled by the Governor-General in 2005 and is a tribute to the hard work put in by Chinese people in the development of Horowhenua and Otaki.
Another positive contribution made by the Chinese community was their support of Te Takere Library in Levin through the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust Fund.
Through their help, and many others, this project was able to get off the ground and become the success it is today.
While making up a small number of the population in the region, the Chinese influence has had a strong and positive impact.
This was personified by Prime Minister John Key and Chinese President Xi Jinping setting an ambitious new goal for two-way trade of $30 billion by 2020. Currently our two way trade is worth over $18 billion, so it’s an ambitious but achievable target.
An agreement was also signed allowing direct trading of the New Zealand dollar against the Chinese renminbi. This will make doing business with China easier by reducing the costs of converting between the two currencies, and will stimulate trade and investment.
The importance of China to our economy has strong roots in our local area.
We have a strong, multicultural community. Chinese ancestry has become a hallmark of the region’s identity and economy. This is apparent in the strength of the market garden businesses that are vital to the horticultural industry of the whole of the lower North Island.
This influence is symbolised by the bronze market gardener statue in Levin. This statue was unveiled by the Governor-General in 2005 and is a tribute to the hard work put in by Chinese people in the development of Horowhenua and Otaki.
Another positive contribution made by the Chinese community was their support of Te Takere Library in Levin through the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust Fund.
Through their help, and many others, this project was able to get off the ground and become the success it is today.
While making up a small number of the population in the region, the Chinese influence has had a strong and positive impact.