Saturday, September 13, 2008 Organizers urge businesses in Cebu attend China fair
WITH the increasing trade between China and the Philippines, organizers of China’s largest trade fair hope that more businesses in Cebu would participate in next month’s event in Guangzhou.
Ren Xiangdong, vice secretary general of the China Import and Export Fair (also known as the Canton Fair), said the event will open up many opportunities for Cebu businesses, and those in the Philippines in general.
He pointed out that the value of traded goods between China and the Philippines has been increasing.
In 2007, the value of traded goods was $30.62 billion, an increase of more than 30 percent over that in 2006. In the first half of this year, the volume of trade between the two countries has already reached $15.74 billion.
Indication
Xiangdong, also deputy director of the China Foreign Trade Centre, said the increasing trade is an indication of the “understanding” and “friendship” between the two countries.
In a meeting with local Filipino-Chinese business owners at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino yesterday, he said that the 104th session of the Canton Fair—which will run in from Oct. 15 to Nov. 6, 2008—will be bigger than the last one.
The 103rd session of the Canton Fair drew the participation of 2,353 representatives from Philippines businesses, including about 30 from Cebu, according to trade fair organizers.
The coming fair will be held at the Pazhou Complex in Guangzhou, which houses a gross exhibit space of 1 million square meters that can accommodate up to 21,000 exhibitors.
The fair, conducted twice a year, was founded in 1957. It is described as an event that shows China’s efforts to open itself to the world.
The fair is participated in by foreign and Chinese companies from various industry segments that include: machinery and equipment; small vehicles and parts; electronics, information technology products, household electrical appliances; building materials, kitchen and sanitary equipment; consumer goods; raw materials; decorations and gifts; and foodstuffs and agricultural products.
Tertuliano Tolentino of Castle Peak Hotel and the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Cebu said he has yet to find out who will participate in the Canton Fair.
Julian Tan of Image Auto Parts said he had participated in some sessions of the fair but while the event does his business good, he found hotel rates in the area too high.
He asked fair organizers to do something about hotels that increase rates four or five times the normal rate during the event.
The Canton Fair is supported by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Cebu and the China Foreign Trade Centre. It is organized by the Huatong Philippines Trade and Exhibit Corp. (LAP)
