Cloud delivers the goods for traders held back by virus

Due to novel coronavirus epidemic, which spread throughout the world in the first quarter of this year, the supply chain has not yet returned to normal in some countries and regions. 

The pandemic has placed huge operational pressure on some buyers, who are turning to the ongoing 128th Canton Fair for opportunities, according to insiders of the foreign trade sector.

They said the pressure on buyers also comes from fewer trips being made due to the outbreak of COVID-19, keeping them away from acquisition tours around the world.

The virus is still present in some countries on a large scale and the markets have not fully recovered yet. 

Some places are still in lockdown, causing much inconvenience to procurement, said a general manager with an Indian foreign trade company.

To improve the situation, the Canton Fair, or China Import and Export Fair, has held two “cloud exhibitions”, with the last one running from June 15-24.

Prior to the current Canton Fair, an executive of a foreign trade company from Saudi Arabia said the company was facing many operational problems.

The general manager of the company said that due to the pandemic, they could not go to China to secure direct procurements. This led to a slower delivery process and increased cost.

Amid the prevention and control measures of the pandemic, new demands from buyers arose that led to new exhibition and procurement models, according to industry insiders.

They said this year’s Canton Fair has responded to these demands by setting up an online exhibition trading platform, providing a convenient and efficient way for sellers and buyers to display products and reach deals. 

Moreover, in the face of diversified market supply, buyers around the world can adjust their purchasing plans directly, according to information they learned from the fair’s platform, such as the production capacity of each supplier, said an exhibitor at the 128th Canton Fair.