Huanqiu, republishing a People's Daily piece, reports that 169 companies have attended all nine editions, an Asia-Africa product zone is being upgraded, and several firms will debut products at the expo.
The ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), billed as the world's first national-level expo themed on imports, will run from Nov. 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Huanqiu republished a People's Daily article laying out what is new about this year's edition, one month before opening. The report describes the expo as a window for opening up, global connection and industrial support.
광고 문의 · 300×250The first eight editions drew about 27,000 company-visits from more than 180 countries and regions, with intended deals exceeding US$580 billion. Organizers point to the conversion of exhibits into commercial goods and of exhibitors into investors as the expo's results, and say it has become a gateway for foreign firms to enter and take root in the Chinese market.
Debuts from familiar names
One highlight is new products from long-time participants. Louis Dreyfus will show animal-nutrition products such as specialty phospholipids and proteins developed at its Shanghai global R&D center. Rockwell Automation will give a global first showing of a high-performance control platform and present green-transition cases, and Japan's Kao will bring several flagship brands.
Estee Lauder's president and CEO is reported to be attending the expo in person for the first time. The group, which has operated in China for more than 30 years, says the country has become an important source of talent, insight and inspiration. Boehringer Ingelheim announced in August a further upgrade of its China strategy, including a new R&D center in Shanghai's Zhangjiang, and has exhibited for eight straight years, showing nearly 50 innovations in total.
Germany's Henkel is exhibiting for the eighth time under a theme that speaks of building momentum together for a new chapter. The report notes it opened Asia's first Vidal Sassoon beauty space and first Sassoon salon in Shanghai and, with a Chinese battery maker, launched a battery innovation center in Changzhou, Jiangsu. Its Greater China head called the expo a bridge between global innovation resources and the Chinese market.
Familiar faces and the Global South
Continuity stands out in the participant mix. The report says 169 companies and 30 overseas organizing bodies have attended all nine editions, and about 50% of exhibitors are returnees, covering roughly 80% of exhibition space. Newcomers and veterans fill the stage together.
Support for developing countries continues. Free booths have long been offered to exhibitors from least developed countries, and this year the Asia-Africa product zone is being upgraded to help African countries with diplomatic ties to China use zero-tariff opportunities. Cote d'Ivoire's export agency settled on a small-business delegation in early August, bringing coffee, dried fruit, cocoa and cashews, while the China-ASEAN economic and trade center plans to launch a cross-border entrepreneurs club during the show.
Spillover beyond the venue was also cited. Pop-up markets modeled on the expo during the National Day holiday in places such as Shanghai's Lingang drew more than 50,000 visits in three days, with sales of expo-style foods and imported ingredients up more than 85% year on year. Shanghai Bailian Group said it has secured 170 procurement-intention projects in food, consumer goods and medical devices over eight editions. Organizers tie this to a plan to turn the expo into a 6-days-plus-365-days trading service platform.
Ge Hong, deputy director of the China International Import Expo Bureau, said curation will follow the themes of new, green, innovative and high-quality, adding more hard-tech exhibits and expanding quality imports. Buyer selection meetings, a buyers' corridor and trade-and-investment matchmaking are planned, and the Trade Delegation Home service will be upgraded. Shanghai says transport, customs and smart operations are in place, with exhibit green channels, fast clearance, bonded display and on-site settlement being refined.
Sinobridge Times notes that with more than a month to go, concrete figures such as exhibitor numbers and deal values will have to wait for announcements during the show. As trade conditions shift among major economies, the industry will be watching what signal this year's expo sends to foreign firms weighing investment in China.
