(01 April 2010 – New Zealand) HSBC welcomed the signing of the Hong Kong and New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement at a luncheon this week with the New Zealand Minister of Trade, Tim Groser.The New Zealand lunch hosted by John Coverdale, global co-head of HSBC Commercial Banking, was to signify a promise of strong cooperation moving forward between the bank and the nation.
Mr Groser said that New Zealand’s increasing engagement with the rest of Asia has gained momentum through trade agreements with mainland China and ASEAN. The agreement with Hong Kong is another significant step forward in Asia-Pacific regional economic integration.
HSBC has had a presence in New Zealand for over 20 years and has significant expertise in servicing New Zealand sectors that trade with Asia, including forestry, dairy, meat and seafood.
John Coverdale, global co-head of HSBC Commercial Banking, said that with Asia’s intra-regional trade growing faster than world trade overall, HSBC is proud to support increased business activity in the region.
The signing of the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement, Hong Kong’s first with a foreign country, is both recognition of longstanding ties and a promise of strong cooperation moving forward, said Mr Coverdale.