China International Import Expo essential for small business trade
ITC brings 70 companies from over 30 developing countries to fifth China International Import Expo
Almost 70 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from 31 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean are participating in the 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai from 5-10 November 2022, thanks to support form the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The 67 small businesses are promoting food and agricultural products, consumer goods and service offerings at the Enterprise and Business Exhibition.
Working with its partners, ITC has been preparing these companies through online training, offering e-learning courses such as ‘Brand Positioning for the Chinese Market’ and ‘Preparing Business Samples for China’. E-catalogues were designed and distributed to chambers of vertical sectors, banks and e-commerce platforms in China.
This year, ITC experts continue to help small businesses in connecting with potential clients onsite via the internet throughout the event, helping them market their products and services and interact with visitors and buyers.
ITC Executive Director, Pamela Coke Hamilton said: “The China International Import and Expo provides an unparalleled platform for small businesses to connect with the Chinese market. We are supporting 67 small companies to participate in the China International Import Expo. ITC has carefully selected these companies and worked with them to ensure their quality and capacities meet the requirements of the Chinese market.”
In addition, ITC co-organized the Digital Economy Openness and Reform Sub-Forum of CIIE Hongqiao Forum with the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province on 5 November. The session explored how to address the new challenges posed by the digital economy to the concept, rules, and order of global governance. Coke-Hamilton delivered remarks at the opening of this Sub-Forum together with the governor of the Zhejiang province and the assistant minister of MOFCOM.
Finally, ITC and Alibaba Group jointly introduced a pilot product, Ethiopian Hanging Ear Coffee, as the successful result of their Digital Empowerment African Products launch under ITC’s Partnership on Enhancing Export Capacity of Africa to China (PEECAC) project. Li Jiaqi, China’s popular live stream influencer, promoted this coffee in Alibaba’s Tmall online store. More than 18,000 boxes of coffee were sold in only six hours.
ITC’s contribution to CIIE is part of a long-term partnership with China to support South-South cooperation and trade competitiveness, with a focus on least developed countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia.
CIIE: Trade platform for businesses worldwide
Enterprises from 127 countries and regions, including a total of 284 of the Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders, participate in the 5th CIIE Enterprise Business Exhibition. Data from the Ministry of Commerce of China shows that exhibitors of the previous four events launched more than 1,500 products, technologies and services, with a cumulative intended transaction value of over $270 billion.
As an official partner of the Expo and in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM), ITC has supported the participation of more than 200 small businesses from more than 30 developing countries in this important exhibition since its inaugural event in 2018. By promoting their products and services, and organizing business matchmaking events, ITC helps businesses take advantage of the Chinese market. In the past four years, ITC has helped them to reach business deals worth about $20 million.