Preparations get underway for the China International Import Expo. The 3rd CIIE will run from Nov 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. (FANG ZHE / XINHUA)
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, enthusiasm for the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE) has not been dampened.
If anything, participants of the CIIE have been looking forward to the annual event which could open more windows of opportunity for them to weather the crisis.
For Accenture Greater China Chairman Zhu Wei, the consultancy’s debut at the 3rd CIIE comes at an opportune time when digitalization has been heralded as the answer to some of the challenges created by COVID-19.
With the need for social distancing driving the global trend of remote networking, Accenture’s suite of digital solutions could fit like a glove for many companies.
“The 2020 CIIE is imperative for businesses to embrace cooperation and boost innovation for sustainable development,” said Zhu, whose company is aiming to become the “digital transformation partner of choice” for enterprises operating in China.
The products that Accenture is bringing to this year’s expo include digital applications geared toward smart city and industrial automation that would “help Chinese enterprise build resilience, accelerate innovation, and better serve people’s needs in this uncertain period”, he added.
Among those looking forward to the expo are New Zealand enterprises, said Huang Yuefeng, economic and commercial counsellor of the Chinese Embassy to New Zealand.
“The previous editions of the CIIE have brought tangible benefits for New Zealand companies. They have also discovered the huge potential of working with China as it sends a strong message of opening up to the rest of the world,” Huang told Xinhua News Agency.
“Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, New Zealand companies are still very eager to participate in the CIIE this year as they strongly believe it will create more business opportunities and brand exposure for New Zealand products in the global market.”
France-headquartered L’Oreal Group, which has taken part in the CIIE since its inaugural edition, said the event illustrates China’s determination to champion the restoration of business and social order in the world.
“Holding the CIIE as scheduled sends a clear signal to the whole world — a signal that China has recovered from the COVID-19 epidemic,” said L’Oreal Group CEO Jean-Paul Agon.
“It also shows China’s determination to play a significant role in fueling global development with openness and a spirit of mutual benefit.”
Like the previous two expos, L’Oreal will be presenting over 100 new products at this year’s fair. It is also looking to test the waters of the Chinese market with beauty-tech innovations for digital-savvy consumers.
Agon added that the company’s “Beauty for All” motto is perfectly aligned with the CIIE’s core values of being open and embracive.
“Nothing can change our confidence and commitment to a more open, inclusive, innovative, sustainable and responsible China that is poised to share a brighter future with the world,” he said, referring to the many efforts L’Oreal has carried out in the country to foster an ecosystem that is conducive to all relevant parties.
Though the pandemic has adversely impacted the revenue of many businesses, L’Oreal China bucked the trend and recorded a 6 percent year-on-year growth for the first half of the year.
In fact, the company even launched the global flagship store of its high-end cosmetics brand YSL in Shanghai’s Xintiandi complex in May, an emphatic demonstration of how China is still very much a key market.
Another company that enjoyed healthy sales is the Estee Lauder Group, which has attributed its recovery from COVID-19 primarily to the solid sales in China.
In the 2020 fiscal year ending June, the group achieved double-digit growth in China on nearly every channel and across all product categories for almost every brand, the company reported in late August.
Fan Jiayu, president of Estee Lauder China, said she sees the CIIE as a means to explore more opportunities in China.
“Holding the CIIE as scheduled signals China’s steady recovery and long-term upward momentum as the pandemic has been effectively curbed and controlled here,” she said. “We will spare no efforts in supporting consumption revival and creating a win-win future with Chinese and foreign partners.”
According to Fan, the company’s commitment to the Chinese market is also evidenced by the expansion of its exhibition space this year by another 100 square meters.
“Two perfume brands we introduced during last year’s expo, KILIAN and Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, were officially unveiled in China earlier this year,” she said, emphasizing how the CIIE has become a platform to accelerate the debut of new products in China.
Another exhibition area that is increasing in size at this year’s expo is the business section, which will be expanded to 360,000 sq m from 300,000 sq m to cope with heightened demand by foreign exhibitors, according to Sun Chenghai, vice-director of the CIIE Bureau.
“The enlarged exhibition demand shows foreign exhibitors’ recognition of the strong attraction of the CIIE and the Chinese market,” Sun said.
Recent surveys have also indicated that confidence in China remains robust. About 92 percent of the 346 companies polled by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai said they will remain in the Chinese market, according to the China Business Report 2020 released in September together with consultancy PwC.
Of the over 200 respondents that own or outsource manufacturing operations in China, only 3.7 percent said they are moving some production out of China to the United States.
“Clearly, it is a question of market size, growth rates and ease of doing business here,” Ker Gibbs, president of the AmCham Shanghai, told China Daily.
“Most of our members are making products and services within the China market and for the China market. It is the market opportunity that is keeping them here.”
One such company is US-headquartered pharmaceutical giant MSD, which recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the CIIE Bureau indicating its commitment to participate in the next three editions of the expo.
“We highly value the significance of the CIIE and its development, and MSD will continue to participate in this exciting event for the next three years,” said Joseph Romanelli, president of MSD China.
Romanelli described the gala as “a major milestone for the government and all participating companies in the post-COVID period”.
As one of the largest exhibitors at the third CIIE, MSD will feature three booths at the Medical Equipment & Health Care Products Exhibition Area. Two of these booths will occupy more than 1,000 sq m — 200 sq m more than last year — while the third will be a digital booth displaying its most advanced technological applications.
MSD is also set to unveil its COVID-19 vaccine and treatment, its Ebola vaccine, and other innovative medicines in oncology, diabetes, anti-infectives, and other therapeutic areas in China for the first time.
Appointed as the leading organization of the Public Health and Epidemic Prevention Committee, a special setup in light of the COVID contagion, MSD has pledged to work with other multinational corporations and partners to strengthen interaction and share resources to support innovation and seize the opportunities the CIIE brings.
“Our innovative R&D in medicines, vaccines and digital healthcare solutions can also contribute to the Healthy China 2030 goals,” said Romanelli.
The 3rd CIIE will be held from Nov 5 to 10 in Shanghai this year.
