Calling small businesses to attend world’s largest import expo

The International Trade Centre (ITC) invites small businesses from developing countries working in the processed food sector, consumer goods sector or services sector to apply for ITC support to attend the 7th China International Import Expo 2024 (CIIE) from 5-10 November in Shanghai, China.

China is the world's second-largest importer and consumer and the CIIE is the largest event of its kind. As in prior years, ITC is supporting the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) from developing countries in the CIIE.

CIIE 2024 is being co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. Government officials, business communities, exhibitors and professional buyers across the world are expected to participate again in CIIE. ITC has been an official sponsor of CIIE since 2019.

For more information, please go to the CIIE website: https://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

Objectives

MSME benefitting from ITC support will be able to:

• Promote their products and services with good export potential to China, focusing on:
  1. Processed food and agricultural products
  2. Consumer goods
  3. Services, specifically tourism, education or information and communications technologies (ICT)
• Familiarize themselves with Chinese market requirements including product quality, delivery conditions, export pricing, market trends and offers by competitors.
• Meet potential Chinese and international business partners.

Programme

ITC’s support to MSMEs will consist of:

• Exhibition space, related construction and set-up (booth size to be confirmed);
• Accommodation in Shanghai for one company representative for the duration of the Expo;
• Assistance for the expo registration and issuance of visa invitation letters for company representatives;
• Training to prepare for their participation in the Expo, via e-learning, through online courses;
• Production of one catalogue in English and Chinese to promote companies’ products and services prior and during the fair;
• Information to facilitate product customs clearance, inspection and quarantine to China;
• Promotion, in cooperation with Expo organizers, of participating companies’ products and services to professional buyers prior to and during the event;
• Advisory support prior, during and after the Expo, including minimum English/Chinese interpretation support.

Conditions for participation

To be eligible for ITC support, MSMEs should:

• Originate from a developing country;
• Offer products or services in the following sectors:
  • • Processed food
    • Consumer goods
    • Services, specifically tourism, education or ICT;

• Be export-ready, preferably with export experience to China and/or developed countries;
• Participate in CIIE with a representative with decision making authority who is proficient in English and/or Chinese, can invest time to prepare for the event and will manage contacts during and after the Expo;
• Have products that can access the Chinese market and have knowledge of the import policies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) requirements and conditions that are applicable for their products to access China (i.e., have initiated or finalized registration for General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)).
• Have the capacity (quality and quantity) to export to China.
• Follow and complete the two online training courses offered by ITC to prepare for the event;
• Be able to provide high-quality marketing material and detailed specifications of their products/services (including pictures, pricing, minimum order quantity, delivery conditions and payment terms).
• Be willing and able to ship representative samples to exhibit during 2024.
• Have digital skills and internet access to follow online courses and undertake online registrations;
• Have a permanent email address for communications;
• Contribute to the Expo registration process by downloading and uploading required documents and pictures;
• Have an operating and accessible website.
• Preferably have trade fair experience.
• Be able to communicate through WeChat.
• Be willing and able to share the expenses of their participation. Companies will have to cover the following costs:

• Travel costs/flights to/from Shanghai,
• Local transport in Shanghai (airport-hotel-expo);
• Shipment of product samples/exhibiting materials and related costs, with advice and relevant contacts to be provided by CIIE Bureau through ITC,

• Meals and miscellaneous expenses in Shanghai,
• Visa arrangements, with letter of invitation to be facilitated through CIIE Bureau and ITC.

Companies that have already registered/rented booths with the Expo organizers directly are not eligible for ITC support.

Participation is by invitation only. Company selection will be confirmed by ITC.

How to apply

To be considered for ITC support, interested MSMEs must submit a fully completed application questionnaire by 10 August 2024. 

Please be informed that any application received after that date will not be considered. Only selected companies will be contacted by ITC and will receive confirmation before 10 August 2024.

For any specific information, please contact Mr. Rob Kohlmann rkohlmann [at] intracen.org (rkohlmann[at]intracen[dot]org) and/or Mr. Mao Tianyu tmao [at] intracen.org (tmao[at]intracen[dot]org).