The 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) Promotion and Roadshow (Guangdong) was held in Guangzhou on September 17, bringing together a delegation of exhibitors of imported products looking to expand their presence in the Guangdong market.
Over 50 exhibitors set to take part in the 9th CIIE, scheduled to be held in Shanghai this November, held in-depth matchmaking talks with over 100 local buyers, exploring further opportunities in the Guangdong market.
They showcased a diverse range of products and services, including medical equipment and healthcare products, trade-in services, technical equipment, food and agricultural products and consumer goods.
A lineup of imported products on display at the roadshow
The CIIE is China's national-level expo dedicated to imports, providing a trade and exhibition platform for foreign goods, technologies and services to reach the Chinese market.
Guangdong serves as a key gateway for imported products entering the Chinese market. As China's most populous province, Guangdong has 129 million permanent residents and a real-time population of 165 million, highlighting the province's vast market potential.
Zhang Ping, speaking on behalf of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, said that since the first CIIE, Guangdong delegations have reached intended procurement deals worth nearly 10 billion US dollars with CIIE exhibitors, with an average annual growth rate of 17.53 percent. The procurement covers biomedicine, technical equipment, consumer goods, food, agricultural products, trade in services and more.
Valikhan Sarsenbekov, Consul General of Kazakhstan in Guangzhou, expressed strong optimism about cooperation with Guangdong.
He noted that Kazakhstan hopes to increase exports of high-value-added products to China, particularly agricultural products, food and deep-processed products. Guangdong's developed consumer market and strong infrastructure for business cooperation provide a solid foundation for Kazakh products to enter and expand in the Chinese market through the province, he said.
At the event, several exhibitors showed representative imported products to Guangdong buyers, expressing expectations for further market expansion.
Mr. Yu, manager of the New Zealand Crossborder Investment and Trade Association Inc., brought a selection of imported New Zealand products, including milk powder, honey, health products and tea.
He said he had reviewed the list of participating Guangdong buyers in advance and set clear targets, noting Guangdong's great potential. Just days earlier, he had attended roadshows in other Guangdong cities, where he achieved promising customer acquisition results.
"New Zealand products follow a high-end quality route. Guangdong has a developed economy, strong purchasing power and a large consumer base. This means consumers here have greater ability and willingness to buy imported New Zealand products," he said.
Han Jin, CEO of Shanghai Yiguli Co., Ltd., an agent for several European food brands in China, brought a selection of pizza and pasta products from the Italian brand LIGUORI.
LIGUORI pasta products imported from Italy on display
He said Guangdong is a key market for his business and ranks among the top five regions in China for sales of his Italian food products.
"Guangdong is famous for its food culture. Local consumers have a greater awareness of and demand for quality food than those in many other regions. The local catering industry is mature with a multi-tiered restaurant landscape, including many high-end restaurants that are important clients for us," he said.
Reporter/Photos | Huang Xinyi
