Opportunities with China beckon

Wine, olive oil, meat and Maori medicine are among the industries being eyed by overseas investors who could spark new economic trade between Hastings and China.

Hastings is looking to step up investment opportunities with China after a visit there to celebrate its 30th sister city anniversary with Chinese city, Guilin, in September.

Delegates on the trip found business people and advisers were interested in what Hastings had to offer in terms of tourism and investment opportunities.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, in his report to council's finance committee, said the district had an advantage over others looking to trade in China because of its long-term connection with Guilin, a point confirmed by the NZ Embassy working in China.

The delegation identified areas where Hastings could possibly set up new trade with China as there was an increasing demand for quality New Zealand wine, food and tourism.

There was also a need for the "migration of high-net-worth" Chinese people to Hawke's Bay who could invest in the region, Mr Yule said.

The gross domestic product in China was about 9.2 per cent. There were more "middle class" Chinese people adopting Western lifestyles, looking for luxury goods to buy, safe havens to invest their wealth and better places or healthy environments to live.

Hastings District Council agreed its staff should develop a plan to generate business activity with China to capitalise on the contacts made by the recent visit.

Mr Yule was keen to protect potential investment opportunities for Hastings and would not "hand over" initiatives to any regional organisations.

"We are already doing things for the region and we are in discussion with people from Business Hawke's Bay in terms of possibilities in China.

"What I am trying to say is that we want to make sure we get these things into a position for Hastings, we don't want to have to hand over a relationship that we have been building for 30 years," he said.

Mr Yule said he was mindful of criticism that the 30-year relationship with Guilin had not brought forward any tangible economic results.

"I don't think there have been the opportunities up until now. There have been some benefits in terms of cultural and social exchanges between the two cities. But we are trying to maximise our opportunities and that's been the focus of the past three-to-five years."