CFTC Working Group Promotes Canton Fair in Mexico

From Sept 19-21, Zhuang Hong, Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre, led a working group and promoted Canton Fair in Mexico City, through holding promotion conference, meeting with local government departments, chambers of commerce and industrial organizations and visiting exhibition venues and Canton Fair VIP buyers.

Canton Fair Mexico promotion conference

The group successfully held Canton Fair promotion conference in Mexico City. The Mexican side attached great importance to the event as it was held in the Senate of Mexico. Relevant officials of the Senate, the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Foreign Affairs participated in the conference. Patino, Technical Secretary of Commission of Foreign Relations of Asia, Pacific and Africa, Senate of Mexico, Li Ziwen, former Mexican Ambassador to China, Martínez Jurado, Deputy Director General for Asia, Ministry of Economy, Li Meng, First Secretary of the Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office of the Chinese Embassy in Mexico, Aida Gutiérrez, Directorate General for Cooperation and Bilateral Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agustín García Rechy, General Director for Asia and Oceania, COMCE and Angel  Friscione, Commissioner of the Board of China Chamber of Commerce and Technology Mexico attended the event and gave speeches. More than 100 representatives from local electronics technology, consumer goods, agricultural products and other industries attended the event, and many local mainstream media such as TELEVISA, TV AZTECA and Oficia Senado de La Republica reported the event.

The group met with Mexico’s government departments and important industrial and commercial organizations

Zhuang Hong made a keynote speech and said that in the new era, with its transformation and upgrading, Canton Fair is not only the best platform to source Chinese products, but also a professional platform for overseas enterprises to enter Chinese market and expand global trade. China is Mexico's second largest trading partner. He expected that Chinese goods can benefit Mexican people, and also welcomed Mexican goods to enter the Chinese market through Canton Fair. Li Meng said, Canton Fair is China’s No. 1 Fair worthy of the name, a crucial platform for China Mexico trade. Attending the Fair will facilitate Mexican enterprises to meet more customers and engage in industrial communication, which provides a spring board for the development of local SMEs.

Patino spoke highly of Mexico China relations. He emphasized that the prospects for Mexico China trade cooperation are bright with huge room of improvement. He hoped that Mexican companies attend Canton Fair, develop Chinese business and achieve win win outcomes. Li Ziwen said Canton Fair is a professional and secure platform for making transactions, the best way to open up the Chinese market. He encouraged Mexican businesses to seize the opportunity, tap in their own advantages, expand export, reduce trade deficit and achieve balanced trade development. Martínez said Mexico and China are comprehensive strategic partners of each other. China is a priority market for Mexico in cooperation of various fields; Mexico China cooperation shows diversity, innovation and inclusiveness. Canton Fair is beneficial to the bilateral cooperation as China’s important and strategic platform of foreign trade. The Department of Economic Development will strive for Mexican enterprises’ attendance. Aida mentioned active attendance to the Canton Fair reflects the strong interest of Mexican business community to the Chinese market and that the Department of Foreign Affairs will provide every assistance to facilitate Mexican companies attending the Fair. Friscione said China Chamber of Commerce and Technology Mexico has enjoyed over 10 years’ cooperation with Canton Fair and witnessed its thriving development. The Chamber will continue to organize delegation to attend and participate in the Fair. China Southern Airlines Mexico Office sent representative to the event to introduce the direct flight of Guangzhou to Mexican City and sponsor a free air ticket in the lucky draw at the scene. Attendees of the promotion conference also communicated with the group on visiting the Fair and business cooperation. The event had a lively atmosphere and achieved remarkable results.

A lucky one gladly received the sponsored air ticket by China Southern Airlines at the scene

Later, the working group visited Mexico’s CHEDRAUI supermarket and conducted field research on its flagship store. CHEDRAUI is the largest local supermarket, and sends buyers to the Canton Fair for a long time. Director Guerrero said Canton Fair has been an important sourcing channel for the supermarket and the main products sourced are home decorative items, garments, electronic products, etc. They can connect with Chinese suppliers directly through the Fair and control the cost effectively. He also said that parts of fresh products will also be imported from China. He looked forward to further development of trade relations between the two countries to benefit the company and Mexican people.

The working group visited flagship store of CHEDRAUI

During their trip, the group also visited Mexico’s largest venue Centro CitiBanamex Convention Centre and Ornamental Plants & Flowers Mexico. The group and the relevant person in charge of the venue exchanged ideas on venue operation, exhibition organization and other issues.

The working group inspected Centro-Banamex Convention and Exhibition Center