As China marks its National Poverty Relief Day and United Nation’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17, the 128th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) continues to help companies from less-developed regions make waves in the international market.
Xu Bing, Spokesperson of the Canton Fair and Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Centre, said the fair is making great efforts to help companies expand into the international market. With multiple measures applied since 2017, 892 companies have joined a featured exhibition zone and 3596 participants from 832 less-developed areas in the country have saved up to 86.69 million RMB to enter the fair.
Barrier-free Opportunities Created for Rural Companies
China has long been dedicated to eradicating poverty and has lifted around 850 million people out of poverty.[MW1] The Canton Fair has provided more than 5000 booths for rural companies over the past three-years with an innovative barrier-free mode.
The Fair encourages companies to register for the event with no restrictions on maximum numbers of exhibitors, minimum export volume and type of exhibits. It has also eliminated all exhibition fees. As the Canton Fair goes online this year, companies from less-developed areas are embracing cost-free participation to the country’s largest trade show.
Open Platform Offers Game-changing Visions
To further enhance the market potentials for rural companies, the Canton Fair has set up a featured exhibition zone for less-developed regions with an exclusive promotional entry on the front page of its virtual exhibition website. It is hosting a series of business-matching events in order to present their specialties to buyers around the world.
With more visitors attending the featured zone at the fair, Su Xiao, a sales manager from a factory in Gansu province, southwestern China, which produces products for ethnic groups, had previously never had a chance to directly connect with the international market, and has embraced this life-changing opportunity for his business.
Since attending the Canton Fair in 2018, the company has made headways into the African market by receiving orders from Somalia, and has changed Su’s vision of doing international trade.
Working with the Canton Fair has enabled Su’s company to locate local agents, as well as supportive service providers. Providing quality products to his clients, Su’s business now covers a wide range of international markets including Kenya and Tanzania.
The expansion of Su’s business through the Canton Fair has also helped him create jobs for more than 200 local residents, including ten who have been lifted out of poverty, with a monthly income of over two thousand RMB.
“The fair brings us great commercial opportunities and helps boost our business, and that plays a role in fighting poverty and striving for a well-off life,” Su said.
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