Key trade exhibition goes virtual

By Qiu Quanlin in Guangzhou (China Daily) Updated: 2014-04-15 07:15

As a complement to the twice-yearly China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, the Internet site e-cantonfair.com will offer services to all global buyers during its spring session that starts on Tuesday, a senior company manager said.

The service "will be of great importance to boosting Chinese exporters' presence in the international trade market and helping upgrade the traditional fair's service to a higher online level," said Zhang Liang, vice-president of the Canton Fair E-Commerce Co.

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The online trade service, launched during the spring session last year, was previously reserved for global buyers registered with the fair, according to Zhang.

"Given uncertain global trade conditions, a more efficient trade channel and an online promotion platform will help Chinese exporters secure more overseas orders," Zhang said.

The fair is in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.

Ahead of the opening, the e-commerce company organized promotional events in more than 20 countries and regions, especially in emerging economies, to attract more global buyers to join the fair's online service, according to Zhang.

Su Jiatao, operations manager of the e-commerce company, said information about Chinese exporters registered with the fair was promoted by using major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing and some overseas online communities, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

"Information about registered exporters will also be open to all global buyers, helping greatly to increase the efficiency of trade and boost buyers' interest," Su said.

According to Su, the company will provide more than 100 self-service terminals and 300 mobile tablets at the fair to allow buyers better access to information about Chinese exporters.

Since being launched in 1957, the biannual Canton Fair, the county's largest trade event, has been seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade.