Christchurch and Canterbury to showcase at Expo

Christchurch and Canterbury to showcase at the Shanghai Expo

The best of Christchurch and Canterbury will be showcased for a week in the New Zealand Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

Canterbury Development Corporation, in conjunction with Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce will stage the Canterbury exhibition in the New Zealand Pavilion from June 21 to 25 in an initiative to increase trade between the region and the China and North Asia markets.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has asked the Deputy Mayor Norm Withers to lead the local delegation to the Shanghai Expo because the week coincides with the Council's deliberations on its Annual Plan 2010/11.

"The business community requested that I lead the Christchurch delegation, but I am required at the Council that week to sign off on our Annual Plan which comes into effect on July 1. I asked the Deputy Mayor to deputise for me and I am delighted that he is able to lead what will be a very important delegation," Mr Parker says.

Canterbury Development Corporation Chief Executive Bill Luff says the Canterbury delegation of 10 business, tourism and education leaders builds on the six year investment that Christchurch has made in developing an economically beneficial partnership with Wuhan city and Hubei province. Christchurch also has a sister city relationship with the Gansu province in north-west China.

"Our presence at the 2010 World Expo will extend Christchurch's profile in China and particularly into the prosperous seaboard city of Shanghai," Mr Luff says.

"We are also hoping to build on New Zealand's Free Trade Agreement with China and the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with Hong Kong. The delegation should be able to develop a regional identity and brand for Canterbury both in China and wider North Asia markets and strengthen our existing partnerships in the market to increase our trade."

Mr Luff says that Christchurch and Canterbury is one of six city/regions to confirm their attendance in the New Zealand Pavilion. They include Otago, Wellington, Waitakere City, Tauranga and Hawke's Bay.

"We are confident that our programme at the Expo will lead to direct business outcomes through the targeted business to business meeting schedule, as well as setting the platform for increased economic benefit opportunities through profiling our region. It is also likely that we will receive television coverage in China during the week," he says.

ENDS

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