By Li Jie, People’s Daily
The much anticipated second China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled to take place from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai. Pledging that the second CIIE will only become more successful than the first one, China has made meticulous preparations for the event.
Recently, exhibits have been transported from around the world to Shanghai one after another through huge vessels. Some companies have already set up channels to keep up with the latest information on the second CIIE.
Conforming to the trend of the times, the CIIE boasts great appeal and charisma.
The first CIIE held in 2018 yielded remarkable fruits. The event was attended by 172 countries, regions and international organizations. More than 3,600 enterprises took part in the exhibitions of the event, while over 800,000 people discussed the purchase of products and went sightseeing at the expo venue.
While the accumulated annual volume of business based on agreements made during the first CIIE amounting to $57.83 billion, the number of participating countries, exhibition area, amount and quality of participating companies, number of purchasers and guests of the event last year were all beyond expectation.
The first CIIE made it to the top ten trade fairs in the world, representing an innovation in the history of international exhibition industry.
The success of the first CIIE greatly inspired foreign exhibitors. According to credible sources, the number of participating countries, regions, international organizations, and companies of the second CIIE will all exceed that of the first event.
Besides, the exhibition area of the second CIIE will be increased from 300,000 square meters last year to 360,000 square meters.
More than 250 Fortune Global 500 companies and leading enterprises are expected to join the second CIIE, showcasing and launching more new products, new technologies, and new services for the first time in China and even the world.
The appeal of the CIIE can be eloquently proven by the responses to the first CIIE and the expectation for the second CIIE.
The CIIE is a great platform for testing and introducing new products.
During the first CIIE, Dada Bangla Limited from Bangladesh brought Bangladeshi handicrafts made of jute to China. The products were well received and later entered the flagship store of Japanese department store chain Takashimaya in Shanghai.
L’Oreal Group, the largest daily chemical company participating in the first and second CIIE, refers the event as an accelerator for launching new products and incubating hot sales.
Four brands of L’Oreal made their debut at the first CIIE. After the expo, they entered the Chinese market, and many products enjoy great popularity in the country.
The company is expected to bring more than 1,000 exhibits to the second CIIE, which is nearly two times the amount of exhibits displayed at the first CIIE. One third of the exhibits will be released for the first time in China.
The CIIE is a good occasion to feel the pulse of the Chinese economy. It helps foreign companies understand Chinese consumption and trends.
After the first CIIE, a beef brand from Brazil started to sell beef products in small packages to third-tier cities in southwest and northeast China, increasingly the sales significantly. Before, the products were only available in bulk in first-tier cities.
The CIIE is also a platform where companies find their most suitable partners. Stenders, a European bath and body care cosmetic company, has strengthened cooperation with Chinese companies after the first CIIE.
Not long ago, Sinopec (Shenzhen) E-Commerce Company Ltd. signed a letter of intent with Stenders for procurement of the products. According to the agreement, Stenders products will be put on the shelves of such outlets as Sinopec gas stations, e-commerce platforms, and convenience stores.
The CIIE gathers enthusiastic buyers from across the world.
During the first CIIE, Johnson & Johnson received many government delegations and signed Procurement Memorandums (PM) with more than 50 well-known hospitals in China.
At last year’s CIIE, a smart robotic vacuum cleaner launched by a subsidiary of German household appliances manufacturer Vorwerk became a hit. Inspired by this, the German company decided to bring all its brands that have entered the Chinese market to the second CIIE.
At the first CIIE, companies exhibiting their products, such as medical devices and equipment, manufacturing equipment, and precision instruments, all found suitable buyers for their products.
The CIIE serves as a good platform for foreign products to enter the Chinese market.
Lewis Road Creamery, a Zelanian dairy company that has been preparing itself for entering the Chinese market during the past two years, is expected to bring its chocolate milk and strawberry milk, both are very popular in New Zealand, to the second CIIE.
After the first CIIE became a success. Many local brands in New Zealand, including Lewis Road Creamery, started to attach greater importance to Chinese market that has unlimited development potential, said Nicola O’Rourke, general manager of Lewis Road Creamery.
The dairy company hopes that it can take the opportunity of the second CIIE to lay a solid foundation for the long-term development of its products in China, O’Rourke said.
The success of the first CIIE was an innovation in the history of international trade, said Fabrice Megarbane, CEO of L’Oreal China, adding that the spectacular influence of the first CIIE makes the world full of expectation for the second CIIE, which will boast larger scale, higher quality, and richer activities.
The CIIE not only offers exhibitors an excellent platform for showcasing their technological strength, product portfolio matrix, and solutions, but also serves as a wonderful and precious opportunity for foreign companies including General Electric to carry out international exchanges, noted Rachel Duan, president and CEO of General Electric Global Growth Organization.
While showing the world the dynamism of the enormous Chinese market, the CIIE is more of an event conveying the sincerity and goodwill of Chinese government in supporting outstanding foreign companies’ efforts to enter Chinese market, said Zha Sheng, Vorwerk’s general manager for China, adding that because of such goodwill, the headquarters of Vorwerk decided to put more resources into Chinese market.
Vorwerk and numerous other multinationals around the world know very well that Chinese market has infinite potential, said Zha, disclosing that Vorwerk is looking forward to meeting Chinese consumers at the second CIIE.
