Consumption rises prove China’s role as ideal business destination
The annual China Import Expo in Kunshan, first launched in 2013, has become an important platform to connect global consumer goods trading businesses with local buyers.
Nearly 200 businesses from more than 20 countries and regions including New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Brazil, Russia, Pakistan and Malaysia will participate in the 2017 trading fair in Kunshan.
The products to be displayed include smart home appliances and food and beverages, said the event organizers.
China has become an ideal business destination for global consumer goods producers because of its rapidly growing consumer demand. China’s consumer goods retail sales, a key indicator of consumption, grew 10.4 percent year-on-year in 2016, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Ten food companies from Minas Gerais, Brazil, will bring goods such as coffee, honey products, olive oil and rum to the 2017 event.
Minas Gerais is the second-largest state in Brazil by population. The region is known for its agricultural products such as coffee, corn, cotton and fruit.
Cristiane Serpa, head of the Minas Gerais Investment and Trade Promotion Agency, said that the event is a good opportunity for local businesses to gain better knowledge about the Chinese market.
“We will not just look at what happens at the trading fair. We want to have direct contact with consumers so we can know what they demand,” said Serpa.
“We also want to know what has been traded in the Chinese market so our businesses can prepare before launching operations in the Chinese market.”
Serpa said the agency carefully considered which exhibiting companies to invite.
“We found Chinese consumers want goods such as coffee and olive oil. We want to provide more choice for them,” said Serpa.
Three chefs from Minas Gerais will bring authentic local tastes, Serpa said.
Products such as fruits and wine from South Africa will be showcased.
Berda Fruit, a Guangzhoubased fruit trading business plans to introduce South Africa’s fruit to the Chinese market.
“We have been trading South Africa’s fruit for nearly 20 years. Many of our products are very popular in wholesale markets in China,” said Jiang Xufei, general manager of Berda.
“We hope we can meet and communicate with more fruit dealers in China to support our imported fruit businesses.”
Qingdao Haiyu SA Fine Wine, the wine supplier at the South Africa pavilion during the Shanghai Expo 2010, plans to introduce more South African wine to Chinese consumers.
Li Xiaoxue, an executive from Haiyu, said that South African wine is more suitable for daily drinking because it has a good balance of price and quality.
“South Africa’s wine has a very competitive price. We have to say that low price does not mean low quality,” Li said. “Relatively low labor costs allow South Africa’s wine to have lower prices than those from traditional wine-making countries.”
Apart from wine, Haiyu will also bring some handmade products, such as artifacts made from Ostrich eggs.
The event’s organizers said the New Zealand-China Investment and Trade Association will use this year’s fair to promote Sino-New Zealand trade, bridging New Zealand’s trading businesses into the domestic market. The association will launch a new office in Nanjing during the expo period.