CIEF credited for companies' growth

Enterprises see new commerce through fair 

Serving as a barometer for China's foreign trade, the China Import and Export Fair is also a major promotion ground for enterprises' transformation and upgrading, officials said.

Newcomer Group, a luggage and bag manufacturer in China, began taking part in the fair in 1998.

"The company has increased from one to 14 booths at the fair over the past 20 years," said Zhao Shengmei, general manager of Newcomer.

The group has gained its international customers and distributors of its own-brand products from around the world via the fair, Zhao added.

"The fair has seen the growth of Newcomer."

Launched in 1957, the CIEF is China's largest comprehensive international trade fair with the most comprehensive commodities, the largest number of buyers and the most extensive influence. 

It has not only helped enhance the competitiveness of Chinese foreign trade companies to expand the international market, but also helped to cultivate a team with expertise in the foreign trade business, local officials said.

Holding the fair online is helping light industry and foreign trade companies to maintain their orders despite the adverse effects of the global pandemic, organizers said.

"Light industry and crafts are traditional export commodities of China, which accounts for more than 25 percent of total foreign trade exports," said Li Wenfeng, deputy head of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts. "Foreign trade in the light industry is highly dependent on the fair," Li noted.

The 127th Canton fair, which is to be held online, is a new attempt for many foreign trade companies, Li said, which will also help bring them new business opportunities via live streaming and online meetings.

Since the 95th Canton Fair organizers have increased booths to account for 20.3 percent of its total exhibitions as of 2016, as part of their effort to demonstrate products with proprietary intellectual property rights and the development of Chinese manufacturing.

In the past, buyers only focused on the number of orders, Zhao said. But now they pay more attention to the brand.