On October 30, at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, 79 foreign trade representatives from 47 Guangdong enterprises were consigning a large amount of luggage, with smart home building materials and smart home appliances made by Guangdong. They were ready for the fourth Guangdong (Malaysia) Commodity Exhibition held from November 2 to 4, aiming to seize the new opportunities of RCEP and further expand their business in the "Belt and Road" market.

Foreign trade representatives from Guangdong enterprises. (Photo by Shi Lei, Nanfang Daily)

The Report to 20th CPC National Congress proposed that China would continue to intensify efforts on becoming a stronger trading country. Accordingly, Guangdong has strived to build a strategic pivot of future development through the promotion of ten major projects in trade developmnent. Recently, Guangdong has launched the plan of "Guangdong Trade Worldwide", which will charter planes for the participants of the 4th Guangdong (Malaysia) Commodity Exhibition. It will ensure the epidemic prevention and control regulation, provide convenient service in crossing the borders, and lower the costs. Hence, enterprises are able to have a safe and convenient way to expand their oversea markets.

Charter flights bring new ideas to solve problems

"During the pandemic, we usually participate in the exhibition online. This time, we can finally communicate with our customers face to face," said Cao Meihua, foreign trade leader of Zhongshan Rixiao Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. 

After-sales service is an important part of the sales chain of machinery and equipment. In the period of epidemic control, the problem of how to provide after-sales service to satisfy customers has plagued many enterprises. Yang Zhihui, the foreign trade business manager of Guangdong Haohui Technology, hopes that with the opportunity to attend exhibitions abroad, he can establish offices abroad and recruit more agents.

"Before the epidemic, we focused on the domestic market. Due to the growth of our company, recently we have planned to expand overseas markets. When we learned about this opportunity, we immediately signed up to participate, hoping to meet more overseas customers," said Wen Tingting, brand director of Dongguan Suomeng Commercial Co., Ltd.

Using Malaysia as a pivot point to expand RCEP market

The exhibition scale of the 4th Guangdong (Malaysia) Commodities Exhibition exceeds 10,000 square meters, and it also has professional exhibition areas in smart home building materials, smart lighting products and smart home appliances. At the Guangdong pavilion, a total of 47 enterprises from Foshan, Shunde, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Guangzhou and other places have participated.

"This is the first time after the epidemic that China came to Malaysia to participate in the exhibition. Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation and Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau have attached great importance to it," said Ouyang Yun, chairman of Guangzhou Convention and Exhibition Service Center. In order to promote exhibitors to harvest more orders at the exhibition, the conference has sent staff to arrive early to check and determine docking activities and buyer invitations locally, hoping that everyone will be full of harvest in this exhibition.

Help enterprises to expand markets both online and offline 　

"The whole process of applying was very fast, with staff helping us throughout, and it only took a few days to apply successfully," said Hu Cheng. Participating in overseas exhibitions is a very important opportunity to discuss face-to-face with customers and understand market changes, and also to build trust and cooperation with foreign customers in a very effective way.　

In order to provide more effective protection services, Department of Commerce of Guangdong also actively coordinates with various departments to open up shortcuts, facilitating the exhibitors of foreign trade enterprises.

Chartering flights to participate in exhibitions overseas is one of the important initiatives launched by the "Guangdong Trade Worldwide" project.

"Combining online and offline factors, it is possible to solve daily trade matters and reach daily transactions through the online platforms. In terms of some key aspects, especially the construction of trade channels, cooperation can be made and maintained through emotional exchanges," said Bai Ming, deputy director of the Institute of International Market Research of the Ministry of Commerce. He believes that Guangdong continues to intensify efforts through various forms on expanding markets and promoting transformation of foreign trade.

Author | Kya

Revisor | Linn, Eleanor, Eddie