Event helps enterprises build connections with BRI regions

The Belt and Road Initiative, which was proposed by the Chinese government in 2013, has nurtured a new channel for China’s opening-up, offering all-new opportunities to China’s foreign trade businesses while bringing prosperity to countries and regions involved in the initiative.

Canton Fair, China’s largest show for international trade, has been continuously highlighting the initiative over the past years, offering a platform to promote trade cooperation between Chinese enterprises and their partners along the new trade route.

The fair’s advantages in offering multiple business matchmaking opportunities between suppliers and buyers and its brand influence have been praised by many exhibiting enterprises.

Members of the Beijing delegation, for instance, were delighted with their achievements in making deals with partners from the BRI regions at this current session of Canton Fair.

During the first two days of the 129th Canton Fair, the delegation’s members reported that they have secured intentions for more than 100 orders, with value totaling $8 million.

Among these enterprises, Beijing-based Orient View Technology is a shining star. It signed intentions for more than 20 orders over the first two days, with a total value of $1.5 million.

Over the past decade, the company has been a major supplier of high-definition smart set-top boxes to more than 40 countries and regions, including those involved in the BRI like Nepal, India, Russia and the Philippines.

According to the company, its market shares in Nepal, India and the Philippines have surpassed 90 percent, 80 percent and 70 percent respectively.

Guangdong, the home province of Canton Fair, has also made advantage of the fair to enhance business relations with BRI-related countries and regions.

The government of Jieyang, a city in the east of Guangdong, encourages its enterprises to use the fair to build connections with clients in BRI regions.

Shunde district in Foshan city uses Canton Fair as a platform to publicize the brand images of Shunde district and local enterprises. The district has also launched a series of key supporting projects in regions involved in the BRI through the platform of Canton Fair.

Huaco Electrical Appliance Group, based in Lianjiang city in the west of Guangdong, is a major electrical cooker suppliers to the BRI regions.

“We highlight the role of Canton Fair in promoting our products and building connections with our clients,” said Lu Runhua, a senior executive of the company. “We have invited a lot of our old and new partners to take part in this Canton Fair session, especially those from regions involved in the BRI.”

Many Chinese companies also use the fair to launch their new products tailored to the BRI regions.

Tianjin-base Jihua New Energy has a subsidiary engaged in the production of garments.

This time at the current Canton Fair, the company has launched varieties of uniforms tailored to Africans, according to the physical features of locals.

At the online showroom of Meishang International Trade Co, a company also based in Tianjin, there are a number of decorative materials, including carpets and tapestries with strong Arabic favor. These are its new launches to the Middle East region.

Zhejiang-based Crown Investment Group is a frequent participant of Canton Fair.

During the first two months of this year, the company reported more than $9.7 million in exports to BRI regions and countries, an increase of 2.3 times from the same period of last year.

The company’s executives said the achievement should be partially attributed to Canton Fair, which has offered an effective online platform over the past two sessions for the company to reach its clients in BRI regions, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.