Australian businesses tap Shenzhen

For Australian aromatherapy entrepreneur Adam Good, taking his startup to Chinese technology hub Shenzhen is the logical leap toward success.

"In Australia, we believe that nature and plant-based botanicals are important. When we came to the precision, hardware requirements, the ability to get good tooling, (and) software integration, we went to Shenzhen," said the co-founder and CEO of Auric, a wellness startup that taps artificial intelligence for aromatherapy systems.

Good said his products such as essential oils leverage Australia's high standards in premium natural ingredients, and complements a flagship device that dispenses scents through digital advances like mobile apps.

"It's made with manufacturing partners in Shenzhen, at a speed and cost we could not match anywhere else", with the high-tech consumer market there also offering an ideal platform for developing the product, he said.

In December, Good will be heading to the city in South China's Guangdong province, home to tech giants like Tencent and Huawei, to continue building his business and partnerships.

The entrepreneur was speaking at the Sydney session of the 2026 Shenzhen Global Investment Promotion Conference on Nov 4.

The conference, sponsored by the Shenzhen municipality and organized by its investment promotion bureau, showcased the city's strengths in innovation and investment to the Australian business community as it promotes high-quality growth in line with the latest development priorities.

The Shenzhen Economic and Trade Office, or SETO, in Australia, a business service provider representing the city, co-organized the Sydney session with investment promotion agency Invest Hong Kong.

At the event, more than 80 representatives from local government, enterprises, universities, innovation incubators, industry associations and other institutions gathered to further explore economic and trade-exchange opportunities, and cooperation between China and Australia.

The trade office highlighted Shenzhen's strengths and achievements, including its top ranking among Chinese mainland cities for exports in the past three decades, with total goods imports and exports hitting A$986 billion ($691 billion) last year.

Australia is Shenzhen's largest trading partner in the Southern Hemisphere, with trade in goods between the two recording A$14.8 billion last year.

The city is also looking to strengthen its role in driving the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and position itself as a premier global investment destination, according to the conference organizers. Major areas of development include leading industrial clusters and the services industry.

Session participants were also presented with the latest economic, business and trade trends, and opportunities in the run-up to Shenzhen hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation global meetings later this month.

Wang Sisi, consul, economic and commercial office, at the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney, highlighted the shared development focus on openness, innovation and cooperation.

Shenzhen, known as China's "Silicon Valley", is a major hub for high-tech industries and manufacturing, she said.

"We warmly welcome more Australian businesses and friends to visit China and Shenzhen in particular," Wang said.

Kerry Zhu, SETO director and chief representative, said Shenzhen and Australia share strong and growing ties built on trade, investment, innovation and "most importantly, people-to-people connections".

"As one of China's most dynamic and innovative cities, Shenzhen offers exciting opportunities for international businesses," she said.

Aaron Duff, consul, commercial and trade, and investment commissioner at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, reiterated the two countries' highly complementary economies, with Shenzhen as one of China's most international, connected and innovative cities.

Duff said the city also provides an important gateway for Australian companies looking to engage with South China and its Greater Bay Area.

"The concentration of high-value consumers, advanced logistics networks, digital commerce platforms and international connectivity make the Greater Bay Area an important cluster for Australian business," he said.

"Likewise, Chinese businesses are increasingly providing services, products and technologies that are in growing demand here in Australia."