The 2023 Hainan Expo, from 11 to 15 April, marked a long-awaited back to normal for trade fairs in China. It also saw the return of business participants from Europe and the rest of the world, as China works toward its economic rebound.
The Expo, organised by the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development, has a focus on consumer goods. For this reason, brands from China and beyond come to unveil new ranges of products. They also use these days of gathering to meet with partners and with Chinese consumers.
The EU SME Centre was in Haikou to participate in this year’s Hainan Expo. We interviewed European representatives of country pavilions, chambers of commerce and diplomatic representations. Company owners told us their reasons for taking part in the Expo. We asked them about their business experiences and the place trade fairs hold in their strategies for visibility, consumer awareness, and brand building.
We discussed the relevance of trade fairs in today’s business landscape, after the world went through years of online events. We asked them what role international trade fairs play in the brand building and visibility efforts of businesses, and what sets the Hainan Expo apart. Companies long established in the Chinese market and newcomers told us of challenges overcome and expectations for the coming years.
You will find in these interviews insights from Marco Tchen, President of BolognaFiere China; Gianpaolo Bruno, Director in China of ITA – Italian Trade Agency ; Gareth Hargadon, Economic Counselor at the Embassy of Ireland in China; Ales Cervinka, Director of CzechTrade China; Paolo Bazzoni, Chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce; Daniel Pedraza, Projects Director at EIBENS on his work for the EU-China GI Pavilion, and Klaudia Feurle, Trade Policy Officer at the European Union Delegation to China.
Five company owners and representatives also took part in our series of interviews and shared their experiences of entering the market and building their brand in China: Matteo Salbego, Co-Founder and CEO of Shanghai SAVA Trade & Consulting; Marta Orso, brand owner of Marta Orso; Johnson Hu, General Manager of Nannini China; Vinicio Eminenti, Founder of VM FINE WINES, and Marco Russo, CEO of Russo Cammei.
– The 2023 Hainan Expo
Are trade fairs still relevant?– Why trade fairs still matter to businesses
What sets the Hainan Expo apart?– How European pavilions organise their participation around the event’s focus on consumer goods and why companies have selected this trade fair
Italy, guest country of honour of the 2023 Hainan Expo– The Chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce and the Director of the Italian Trade Agency share their insights on the landscape and prospects of Italian businesses in China
Entering the Chinese market– Experience sharing by business owners in China
The EU-China GI Pavilion– Raising consumer awareness on Geographical Indication products
Brand visibility and B2B partnerships– European representatives on trade fair opportunities for B2C visibility and B2B meetings
Going online– The role of e-commerce for European companies in China
Challenges and advice for SMEs entering the Chinese market– The evolution of challenges faced by SMEs and the fairs you should attend if you missed the Hainan Expo
