Mr. Mu Xinhai, Vice Secretary General & Spokesman of the Canton FairGuangzhou Nov.6, 2008
Friends from Press, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
Welcome to the press conference and thank you for your attendance.
Mr. Wen Zhongliang, Commercial Counselor of the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce of P.R. China and Director of the Business Office of the Canton Fair also attend today’s Press Conference.
The 104th session of China Import and Export Fair is about to conclude, this session of the fair is being held under the severe conditions that global financial market is experiencing drastic turbulence, financial crisis is spreading to real economy, growth rate of world economy is obviously slowing down with increased uncertainties in international economic environment. Confronted with complicated external environment, in accordance with the arrangement of the leading party group of the Ministry of Commerce of P.R.China, the Canton Fair thoroughly implements the Scientific Outlook on Development by carrying out the significant reform of splitting the fair into 3 phases. It also achieves positive results and improves organizing capability by serving the transformation of development mode of foreign trade, optimizing the structure for export goods, maintaining the reputation of products made in China, forging Chinese brand, and promoting balanced development of import and export.
With concerted efforts from all parties, every reform has been implemented. All parties strictly fulfill their functions and cooperate very well. The exhibition scale has been further expanded, which provides Chinese excellent enterprises with a platform to demonstrate their images and products. It also offers valuable opportunity for more enterprises to participate in the fair amid the environment of shrinking global demand and difficult export situation, enabling them to gain more chances to stabilize business sources and explore new market. Further optimization of exhibit categories and exhibition sections follows the trend of international exhibition industry. On the basis of maintaining the feature of a comprehensive exhibition, the Canton Fair has further improved its degree of specialization, which makes buyers’ sourcing more convenient. The full operation of the complex provides exhibitors and buyers a brand new negotiation environment. The new complex is functioning very well, and has stood all the tests during the period of stand setting-up and dismantling. New complex, new phase and new mechanism has not only created new opportunities for enterprises, but also brought new vitality for the Canton Fair.
The features of this session are as follows:
Firstly, to cope with the current unfavorable situation, exhibitors take some active measures so as to transform challenges into opportunities and achieve a result better than expectation.
Exhibitors reflect generally that, before participating in the Canton Fair, they have already prepared themselves for the possible decrease of buyer attendance and trade turnover. Up to November 5, the number of overseas buyers accumulate to 174，562 and the trade turnover reaches to USD 31.55 billion. The visit to the Canton Fair’s websites accumulate to 170 million times. The intentioned turnover of online transaction reach USD 570 million, which was achieved under the background that most countries lower their expectations of economic growth, global market shrink, and professional buyers from Europe and America have cut their sourcing activities. It was due to concerted efforts made by all parties participating in the fair, especially those exhibitors. Meanwhile, it also shows that China’s export industry has generated a relatively competitive edge, and China’s export goods still have obvious competitiveness. Export enterprises’ ability to handle external environment is improving.
Besides, transaction volume achieved by private enterprises reached USD 18.56 billion, accounting for 58.8% of the total. Among private enterprises, a considerable proportion is small and medium-sized enterprises, which demonstrates the Canton Fair’s role in serving small and medium-sized enterprises to explore the international market has been strengthened.
Secondly, brand effect is expanded, and more confidence is gained for enterprises with advantages.
This session sees a considerable increase of brand stands; expansion of exhibition space and improved level of stand construction has played an important role in fully demonstrating the image of products “made in China” and facilitating negotiation and transaction. Trade volume achieved at the Brand Zone reached USD 8.86 billion, accounting for 28.1% of the total. The demonstration effect of brand has been further improved.
Thirdly, high-tech products, new and special products with high added value emerge in a large quantity and become an active part for transaction; environmental-friendly products enjoy great popularity; products with independent brand, design, patent and innovation have prominent advantages.
Products that are innovative, environmental-friendly, uniquely designed or filling the blank of the international market are very popular. Brand enterprises, enterprises with strong transformation capability, and enterprises implementing market diversification ahead of time take the initiative in transaction, pricing, and they demonstrate relatively strong capacity to weather the financial storm.
A large number of exhibitors say that after this session of the Canton Fair, they will make every endeavor to increase turnover, while improve their competitiveness and capability to withstand risks by adjusting their export strategies, tapping emerging markets, transforming the enterprises and making innovations against the background of gloomy external economic situation. Therefore, the export growth can be maintained stable. Survey shows that cultivating brands and developing novel products while avoiding competition of same quality or same price is a very effective way to tackle the demand slowdown of overseas market.
Fourthly, upgrade the quality of exhibits.
This session of the Canton Fair attaches great importance to upgrading the quality of exhibits. The Ministry of Commerce of P. R. China issued a series of documents before the fair requiring commercial departments at all levels and various commercial and industrial associations to examine strictly the qualification of exhibitors. Those exhibitors breaking the regulations of the fair and those resource-consuming products with high pollution and high cost blacklisted by the quality inspection department or the environmental protection department shall be cleared away from Canton Fair. Trading delegations and various departments of the Canton Fair shall strictly inspect to deter products with inferior quality. The Ministry of Commerce of P. R. China held a news briefing on the quality of products in the whole commercial system of China during the fair time on Nov. 4th, requiring us to have a sense of “every issue concerning product quality is serious” and upgrade the product quality.
Fifthly, International Pavilion shows the sincerity and efforts of Chinese government in promoting the trade balance
In this session, we have stricter entry standards and verification systems for exhibitors of International Pavilion, insuring all the exhibiting enterprises and exhibits are overseas with improving quality. Such countries or regions as Turkey, Hong Kong, and India have organized relatively large delegations to participate. Overseas exhibitors expressed that under the current volatile international economic situation, they are even more optimistic about the Chinese market. They have achieved better-than-expected effect, and they are full of confidence in exploring the Chinese market.
The Fair has organized about 8000 domestic professional buyers. It adopts a door to door purchasing model for the first time and achieved good results targeting at overseas advanced technology, advanced equipment, key parts and components, and scarce products in Chinese Market.
Sixthly, continuously strengthen the effort on IP protection.
Import and export industrial association is responsible for IP protection in this session for the first time, which is more professional, authoritative and closer to exhibitors. The complaint reception station has received 645 complaints, involving 911 enterprises, in which 495 are determined as infringing others’ IPR. Staffs fully take the advantage of their understanding of enterprises and industries, upgrading the handlement efficiency.
Seventhly, further strengthen service functions and improve service level.
The reform has efficiently improved its service level: Booth category and application procedures have been simplified, which helps to save more time and reduce administrative cost for each trade delegation and exhibitor; the modern facility of new complex has brought fresh atmosphere of negotiation to overseas buyers. Service facilities are being constantly perfected, such as direction signs that are convenient for exhibitors and buyers; Safety and Scan Efficiency has developed with the new implementation of IC Cards for entry; Booth design becomes much more delicate; Catering service achieved recognition from both exhibitors and buyers; Smooth surrounding traffic and orderly complex has been seen in this session.
The Canton Fair has received an initial success in the reform of three phases in one session, which is an important measure carried out by the Ministry of Commerce of P.R.China to implement the Scientific Outlook on Development and transform the government functions, as well as a move to serve the local, the infrastructure and enterprises. On such a basis, we are constantly making conclusion, improve and progress towards the goal of first-class exhibition in the world.
The reform of the Canton Fair is in the spotlight of the public and gains positive remarks from the media. The press has made objective, complete and in-depth report upon active measures to innovate and increase turnover taken by governments of all levels, local business administrative departments and exporters all across the country against the financial crisis, they also covered the successful experience, market information from home and abroad reflected through the Canton Fair. Hereby I would like to represent the Press Center of the Canton Fair to express the most sincere gratitude to all of your excellent work and dedication spirit.
Thank you very much.
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