The Tripartite Economic Alliance

In 2014, the Tripartite Economic Alliance (the Alliance) between Auckland, Guangzhou (GZ, China) and the City of Los Angeles (LA, U.S.) was signed for a period of three years.  

The Alliance is based on existing strong sister-city relationships. It focuses on increasing trade and investment between the three cities and their surrounding areas, and strengthening political and civic engagement. 

The first trilateral economic agreement between global cities

The Alliance set a new benchmark for city engagement and collaboration. Between 2015-2019, there were annual Tripartite summits and related activities intended to meet the shared tri-city objectives of increasing trade and economic engagement. 

The Alliance created a 'platform' and opened doors to meaningful and substantive economic, trade and investment opportunities for Auckland-based businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors.  

Progress since signing the tripartite agreement

The Tripartite has been a successful collaboration, strengthening Auckland's connections and visibility with two significant partners and gaining national and international recognition. 

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (formerly Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development, ATEED) estimates that opportunities from the Tripartite summits and related events have generated a number of potential deals for local companies. Given the time required for business deals to conclude, the commercial results will continue to be tracked. 

Other initiatives facilitated under the Alliance include substantive memoranda of understanding and strategic alliances between business and research institutions that cover ports, design, innovation and emergency preparedness. 

The Tripartite Economic Alliance was extended by a further three years in November 2017 at the mayoral summit held in Guangzhou, with the three cities agreeing to align Tripartite related activities with a trade/innovation event in the host city focused on sectors of mutual interest. 

Auckland Council has maintained these activities, leading an Auckland business delegation related to SelectLA in May 2018 and hosting the Tripartite with activities linked to Techweek19 in May 2019. 

In December 2020, acknowledging the value of international urban partnerships in supporting the Covid-19 recovery and addressing the climate emergency, the three cities agreed to extend the Alliance for a further two years without the need for each city to host tripartite-related activities on a rotational basis.