ALL roads lead to Shanghai, China, as the start of the first-ever China International Import Expo (CIIE) draws near.
The CIIE is an international trade exposition that will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China, from November 5 to 10. It is the only trade show in China to date that features foreign exhibitors, with no Chinese companies on the exhibit floor.
China is expected to import goods and services worth more than $10 trillion in the following years. This makes the CIIE a historic trade event for enterprises worldwide to enter the burgeoning Chinese market.
The Philippine delegation to the maiden edition of the CIIE will be led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and will feature 36 exhibitors representing sectors in food and agriculture, and consumer goods in the Enterprise and Business Zone.
The 36 Philippine exhibitors will showcase an array of products and services the Philippines has to offer, such as fresh fruits and vegetables (mangoes, bananas), coconut products (coconut sugar, coconut water, virgin coconut oil), sauces and condiments, snack foods, muscovado sugar, indigenous herbal infusions, noodles, alcoholic beverages, civet coffee, artisanal chocolates and personal-care products, among others. These companies have met the deadline and criteria set by the CIIE organizers.
Aside from exhibition at the Enterprise and Business Zone, the Philippines will have a country pavilion that will highlight the country’s long-standing history and connection with China alongside 80 other countries. The tourism and education sectors will also be featured in the country pavilion.
The DTI is organizing additional activities such as store visits and on-site business-to-business (B2B) matching for Philippine participants throughout the run of the exposition.
The DTI’s partner agencies include the Departments of Agriculture, of Tourism, of Science and Technology and the Commission on Higher Education.
The DTI has also forged partnerships with the private sector through the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., the Cebu Chamber of Commerce (CCCI), the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alibaba and the Bank of China in Manila.
So far, over 130 countries with 2,800 enterprises including 200 Fortune 500 companies have confirmed their participation in the CIIE.
China was the top trading partner of the Philippines in 2017, with trade valued at $25.48 billion. However, the trade deficit with China registered at $9.4 billion. The CIIE is an avenue to increase Philippine exports and reverse this trade imbalance.
Other Philippine companies interested in exporting to China can look forward to participating in 2019 as China plans to make the CIIE a continuing annual event.