Entrepreneurs bridge trade relations with world

Explore Chinese market at Canton Fair to start business with counterparts


May 06, 2023
A key proposal is to slap 2% additional customs duty on goods imported at zero duty, including those falling within the free trade agreements. photo: file

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GUANGZHOU:

“When I heard that there will be an international booth and a lot of international visitors will be participating, I felt like it’s a must to visit and find out the possibility of doing business with China as well as the whole world,” Rana Javed Akhtar, Chief Executive MK Sons (Pvt) Ltd, told China Economic Net (CEN).

He was attending the 133rd China Import and Export Fair held in Guangzhou. The exhibition – known as Canton Fair – kicked off on April 15 and entered its third and final phase on May 1.

Held in three phases through May 5, it is also the largest in history, with a record number of exhibition areas and exhibitors.

Its offline exhibitors rose to more than 34,000 this year, with more than 9,000 new exhibitors, and online exhibiting enterprises reached 39,281.

“We are here for the first time,” Akhtar said, adding that he was hoping for the best.

“I was really impressed. The fair is well organised; we got good services from the constructor and from the Cantonese people. I brought in the best textile products. I would like to see how I can explore the market and how to start business with the Chinese buyers.”

Another first-time exhibitor at the fair Safdar Fayyaz, Chief Manager Exports at Piano Exports FZCO, also expressed his enthusiasm about the event.

“China is our big partner. We have heard that it is one of the largest fairs, so we are eager to come here, and hopefully more coordination will be seen in the future,” he voiced hope.

As one of the largest manufacturers of writing instruments and stationery items and one of the leading exporters to the globe, Piano Exports FZCO showcased its dazzling products with attractive prices and quality combination to international visitors.

Though visiting for the very first time, Fayyaz was quite confident about the future performance of products coming from an old brand established in 1965.

As entrepreneurs see it, their Make-in-Pakistan products can make its way into the Chinese market, and even beyond it.

“Pakistani textile products have their own edge here,” Akhtar told CEN. As China is a fast developing country, Pakistan with its specialisation in making certain textile goods will be able to break into this market with retailers.

“There should be more visits and exchanges between both countries,” he suggested.

“One of the best things we are doing right away is colouring pencils. We have some unique coloured pencils that may be of interest for Chinese buyers,” Fayyaz noted.

He observed that e-commerce was very important when exploring the Chinese market, “so we will definitely develop it very soon.”

THE ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON THE CHINA ECONOMIC NET

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2023.

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