More global companies eye trade expo opportunities
The annual China International Import Expo, the fifth edition of which will be held in Shanghai in early November, continues to receive interest from companies around the world, with newcomers applauding the robust growth and huge potential of the Chinese market.
At least 13 companies will attend the CIIE for the first time this year, including the global metals and mining giant Rio Tinto Group, the Japanese multinational semiconductor company Renesas Electronics Corp. and the German logistics services provider Flyflow Germany GmbH.
Italy’s largest pet food company, Monge & C SpA, will be another newcomer at the expo this year. As soon as Monge signed collaboration agreements with its Chinese partner last November, the Italian company applied to take part in the expo, said Tang Yu, business development director for
Monge in the Asia-Pacific region.
Monge’s products are now available at major online e-commerce platforms such as JD and Alibaba’s Tmall.
As the company aims to enrich its product portfolio in China, participation in the CIIE, a window to the Chinese market, will help achieve that goal, Tang said.
“The CIIE has demonstrated China’s unswerving goal of further opening up and its dedication to promoting international trade.”
For the first time this year at the CIIE a special zone within the business exhibition area will be set up for seed suppliers and artificial intelligence companies.
The vegetable breeding and seed production company Rijk Zwaan of the Netherlands, the fourth-largest of its kind in the world, will be present in the special zone.
With extensive coverage of different industries, the expo will help Rijk Zwaan approach more customers, including supermarkets, importers and exporters, said Ren Yuanyuan, team leader for marketing and communication at Rijk Zwaan (Qingdao) Agricultural Services Co.
The expo is also in line with the company’s strategy in China to look beyond the large companies it has worked with since entering China in 1999 and to find new partners in the retailing end, Ren said.
The company is also looking for collaboration in modern agriculture and high-tech products, she said.
The health and lifestyle company Airinum of Sweden will also attend the CIIE for the first time this year. Apart from its signature patented masks, Airinum will showcase branded bags and hats, the categories that the company will introduce globally later this year.
Jiang Yongxin, head of business expansion at Airinum China, said the country accounted for 15% of the company’s annual revenue growth over the past three years. Airinum would like to use the expo to explore more distribution channels in the country to better integrate online and offline outlets, he said.
The Norwegian Seafood Council will take part in the expo for the first time this year as an organizer. Andreas Thorud, the council’s China director, said it has been inviting Norwegian seafood companies to attend the fifth CIIE. China is one of the most promising markets in the world, so close ties with Chinese partners are crucial, he said.
More than 85% of the planned exhibition area has been booked so far for the expo, which will be held from Nov 5 to 10, said Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the CIIE Bureau. More than 90% of those who took part in the past four years will be back this year, he said.
“The CIIE has demonstrated China’s unswerving goal of further opening up and its dedication to promoting international trade.” TANg yU