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The Closer
Economic Partnership (CEP) between New Zealand and Hong Kong further
strengthens the economic links between New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region
Trade Minister Tim Groser says.
In Hong Kong
for the signing of the CEP on March 29, Mr Groser said the free trade agreement
(FTA) complements New Zealand’s existing FTA with China, and given Hong Kong’s
position as a regional trading and investment hub, supports NZ business engagement
with the wider region.
“With a remarkable 43% increase in our exports
to China over the past 12 months – an extra billion dollars of export revenue
earned – there is real potential here for NZ,” Mr Groser said.
The trade
minister had the support a HKNZBA team of 19 people, led by President Felix Lee.
Several members of the delegation attended Filmart and the Digital
Entertainment Leadership Forum prior to the signing and saw Samoa beat New
Zealand for the 2010 HK Sevens title.
Some HKNZBA
members, including executive members Stella
Chan, Chris Hung and Arran Boote, were later attending the opening of a new NZ
Focus Centre in Shenzen, just across the border into Mainland China.
The CEP is Hong Kong’s first outside of its Closer
Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the Mainland. After the signing Mr
Groser said NZ’s trade agreements with both China and Hong Kong provide an
unparalleled opportunity to increase exports and “positive engagement with a
region that will continue to be of central importance to our economy over the
decades ahead”.
“This agreement is focused on cementing certainty of
access to markets and establishing a clear framework of companies to operate
within,” Mr Groser said. “It is designed to encourage ease of doing business
and to foster the free flow of people, innovation and business engagement.”
HKNZBA member and delegate Peter Wren-Hilton of
Tauranga-based Pingar announced on the back of the CEP signing, that Pingar is
developing a Chinese language version of its intelligent search engine.
Pingar is a member of the Microsoft Start-up
Accelerator Programme and Microsoft’s Wave 14 Partner Engagement Program and
now has offices in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Its semantic search
platform searches PDF or XPS documents.
Pingar has partnered with HK-based Compose Systems, a
major developer of print publishing solutions, to develop its Asian base. Mr
Wren-Hilton says together they have identified key clients and the demand for
both simplified and traditional Chinese versions of the Pingar system.
The CEP is expected to enter into force late in 2010
following implementation procedures being completed by both HK and NZ.
Felix Lee says the HKNZBA, together with the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NZTE, plans workshops to explain how NZ
business can best leverage the CEP in May. If you are interested in attending
those workshops register with hk@hongkong.org.nz
now.
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