A matchmaking event for potential exhibitors and purchasers of food and agricultural products for the upcoming eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai on April 18. 

The event aimed to build a bridge for business cooperation between exhibitors and purchasers of the food and agricultural product sector. A total of 41 exhibitors including Dole, Goodfarmer, Joy Wing Mau (Chile), Theland and Swiss Center as well as over 150 potential purchasers such as ddfresh.net, Shanghai Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, Sinopec Shanghai Easy Joy, Bailian Group, Shanghai Eastern Airlines Food Co Ltd and Pinwo Food Co Ltd had business negotiations at the event.

A matchmaking event for potential exhibitors and purchasers of food and agricultural products for the eighth CIIE was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai on April 18. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

The CIIE Bureau and Bright Food (Group) Co Ltd, a major purchaser at the CIIE, signed a memorandum of cooperation at the event. With the memorandum, Bright Food (Group) Co Ltd plans to strengthen international cooperation via the CIIE.

The CIIE Bureau and Bright Food (Group) Co Ltd, a major purchaser at the CIIE, signed a memorandum of cooperation at the event held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai on April 18. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

The eighth CIIE is set to be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. "Preparation for the upcoming CIIE is underway," said Ge Hong, deputy director-general of the China International Import Expo Bureau, noting that the exhibition space which has been affirmed has reached 250,000 square meters. "We will involve more purchasers along the industrial chains and small and medium-sized importers in the preparation for the CIIE and work to promote high-level opening-up and high-quality development," Ge said. 

The event was co-organized by CIIE Bureau, the NECC (Shanghai) and the Shanghai branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

Logos of major exhibitors for the food and agricultural products exhibition area, dairy and agricultural products zone of the 8th CIIE. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

A list of purchasers for the food and agricultural products exhibition area, dairy and agricultural products zone of the 8th CIIE. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

Ge Hong, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau, and Mi Liang, deputy head of the Shanghai branch of the ICBC, addressed the event. Zhuang Yan, chief financial officer of Dole China, and Liu Jing, brand director of Bright Food (Group) Co Ltd, also spoke at the event as representatives of exhibitors and purchasers, respectively. Ma Haihua, deputy secretary general of China Cooperative Trade Enterprises Association, shared his insights on strategies for marketing imported food products in China. 

Also displayed at the event were agricultural products, including Anchor milk, milk powder and butter, fresh Musang King durian from Malaysia, pineapple by Goodfarmer, seal oil from Inuit, Manuka honey and Spanish ham.

Exhibitors and purchasers have business negotiations.

By Li Hanmeng