Quality, innovation draw foreign buyers to Canton Fair

Visitors to the 133rd session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. PARKER ZHENG/CHINA DAILY

GUANGZHOU — Having finished his light lunch, Babak Amin, an Iranian purchaser attending the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, gathered his stack of brochures and walked briskly into an exhibition hall. He was heading for yet another round of meetings with business partners, continuing a decade of profitable interactions through the fair.

The second phase of this year's event, also known as the 133rd China Import and Export Fair, concluded last week. International buyers from all over the world, including Amin, participated in the fully resumed on-site activities.

Data show that the second phase, featuring light industrial products, including daily consumer goods, gifts and home decor, attracted about 12,000 participating companies. The exhibition center received some 815,000 visits, with export deals exceeding $4.5 billion.

Having attended the Canton Fair for over 10 years, Amin said it displays China's ability to provide suitable manufactured goods in response to customer requests.

"I obtain customized requirements from customers and then communicate the details to Chinese companies for production. Both sides have grown in this process," he said.

With companies from various industries setting up booths at the fair, Amin said the event is very large in scale. He has already signed four new cooperation orders with Chinese suppliers at this year's event.

Also attending the fair this year was an Italian buyer who gave his name as Marco, whose company's focus is on horticultural products. He visited the booth of Guangzhou Light Holdings Ltd and talked with the company's manager about the products on offer.

"Everyone knows that China can offer quality products at a lower price," he said. "In Italy, consumers are very happy to hear that the products they're buying come from China."

Many of the goods showcased in the second phase of the fair used to be classified as labor-intensive products. However, exhibitors have been accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries through innovative ideas, optimized designs and improved technology.

At the booth of Guangdong Xin Yu Technology Industrial Co Ltd, a drummer plays along to music without physically striking the drums. The product, invented and manufactured by the company, features a gyroscope built into the electric drumsticks that allow players to produce drum beats with waves of the sticks.

On the other side of the exhibition hall, Ye Weilun, general manager of Guangzhou Megos Tech G.Z. Co Ltd, said the company has focused on intellectual property rights to develop international markets.

During the second phase of the Canton Fair, Ye had discussions with dozens of domestic and foreign clients and secured several intended orders.

"Our brand has always been global-oriented and we have to enhance the core competitiveness of our company," said Ye.