New Zealand China Council welcomes Chinese investment in Southland

The New Zealand China Council welcomes the announcement of a new $200 million dairy plant in Southland backed by China Animal Husbandry Group.

Executive Director Stephen Jacobi says the investment will be hugely beneficial for the region, creating skilled jobs and boosting exports to meet China’s growing market for nutritional milk powders.

“China’s investment in New Zealand is very low relative to our trade in goods and services, both in absolute terms and relative to the size of the relationship.”

NZTE figures show the stock of total foreign investment from China was $3.4 billion in 2014, compared to $53 billion from the UK, $33 billion from the US and $114 billion from Australia.

“We need increased investment flows from China, especially in capital intensive sectors such as food processing. This will strengthen two-way trade connectivity, add value to volume and ensure better access for New Zealand products to new and existing markets in China,” Mr Jacobi says.