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New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) are set to cement their presence in Asia after opening an office in Hong Kong on October 29.  

The establishment of a regional office in Asia is a first for NZW and follows the implementation of the NZW Strategic Plan targeting growth markets, with a particular focus on opportunities in China. 

New Zealand Winegrowers’ Auckland-based Marketing Manager for Asia, Monty James, will relocate to manage the regional office, centrally located within the offices of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.  Mr James maintains his title as Marketing Manager Asia, a role which covers the entire region, but focuses mainly on export markets in Greater China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.  

The relocation will facilitate the successful implementation of NZW levy-funded marketing activities in Asia, particularly the co-investment activities with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) in China, including their High Impact Programme. 

New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan said “Opening our Hong Kong office demonstrates a long-term commitment by the industry to this increasingly important region for New Zealand’s premium wine exports. We expect New Zealand wine sales into Asia to exceed $100 million for JYE 2013, up from less than $20 million as recently as 2005”.

NZTE’s Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong, Kevin Parish, welcomes the move: “We congratulate NZW on establishing a greater presence here in Hong Kong, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Monty and the NZW team to accelerate the growth of New Zealand’s wine exports in this region and particularly the China market.”