During her recent trip to China with the support of Asia:NZ, The Listener's Rebecca Macfie met and interviewed a number of New Zealand businesspeople who have set up operations in different parts of China. This allowed her to gain better insights into what challenges lie ahead for New Zealand businesses determined – and sometimes a little to eager – to reap the benefits of the China-New Zealand FTA.

Through meeting executives for Icebreaker, McKinsey, Fonterra and Energy Mad, Rebecca identified a recurring message that perhaps the most significant hurdle New Zealand business needs to overcome is a relatively limited knowledge of Chinese business and cultural customs.

Read the full text of Rebecca Macfie's insightful report here.

 

A modern supermarket supplying Beijing's burgeoning middle class.
Photo: Rebecca Macfie.