CIIE provides impetus for economic recovery along Belt and Road

Photo taken on Nov. 7, 2020 shows the exhibition hall of the Thai Food and Agricultural Products at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area during the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China. [Photo/Xinhua]

Authorities have also set up 20 national pavilions for B&R countries in the Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub next to the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), where the expo is taking place, according to Xue Yingjie, general manager of the Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub Group.

More than 300 small and medium-sized enterprises from B&R countries are presenting more than 10,000 products at the hub, Xue said.

A bridge for global enterprises

For many enterprises from B&R countries, the expo is a major exchange platform to communicate, exhibit their products, make their brands known to the Chinese public and find business partners.

Afaf Rais, commercial director of IntelCare, a Moroccan cosmetics company, spoke about the firm's experience during the previous two editions of the CIIE. "We met with several Chinese distributors and welcomed several customers to our stand to exchange opinions. It was very useful to understand the Chinese customers and adapt to their expectations," she said.

The commercial director said that, with the help of the third edition of the CIIE, the company has set a goal of finalizing distribution agreements and achieving annual sales of around 1 million U.S. dollars in the Chinese market in 2020.

Meanwhile, Watergen, an Israeli high-tech company, is presenting its unique patented technology with the ability to turn humidity in the air into a source of high-quality drinking water. It has put several of its machines on display, from small ones for home use to big ones for public spaces.

"This is the second time for Watergen to participate in the CIIE," Michael Mirilashvili, president and CEO of Watergen, said. "The second CIIE held in 2019 brought great opportunities for us."

After participating in the second CIIE, Watergen attracted some 200 companies to discuss cooperation.

A staff member shows Watergen's unique patented technology with the ability to turn humidity in the air into a source of high quality drinking water at Watergen Headquarters in Petah Tickva, Israel, Nov. 1, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

The CIIE serves as a bridge for global enterprises to directly reach the Chinese market and tap substantial business opportunities, said Deemah Sukhtian, managing director of Munir Sukhtian Group, a Jordanian family business trading in various areas.

"China plays a significant role in global trade and economy, where we've been trying to approach and see how we can collaborate on both imports and exports," Sukhtian said.

China National Machinery Industry Corporation Ltd, a state-owned machinery conglomerate, said it will sign agreements on project cooperation with three Belt and Road countries, including an electrolytic aluminum project in Belarus, which will be funded by Belarus and built by China.