The International Trade Centre (ITC) will provide support to 100 companies from 20 least developed countries and developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to participate in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), to be held in Shanghai on 5-10 November 2018.

According to the ITC, the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) going to China have been selected from a variety of sectors, including food, textiles and apparel, and services; and will be showcasing their products and services, establishing new contacts with potential business partners and exploring how to tap into the Chinese market.

In cooperation with its partners, ITC has been preparing the selected companies to participate in global trade fairs and familiarize themselves with Chinese market requirements. This has included the development of dedicated e-learning courses on exporting to China, offered through ITC’s SME Trade Academy platform. A number of ITC experts will provide continued advisory support to companies throughout the event, to set-up their booths and manage their business interactions with visitors and professional buyers.

In addition to the companies attending CIIE, ITC said it is providing support to trade and investment support institutions from Bolivia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Nepal, to take part in the event in Shanghai. Representatives from some 150,000 companies from more than 100 countries are expected to participate in this first edition of the CIIE.

Commenting on the initiative, ITC Executive Director Arancha González said, “ITC is proud to partner with China for the first edition of CIIE, which offers a new arena for South-South trade, cooperation and dialogue.”

“For the companies we are supporting to attend, the event provides a unique opportunity to tap into the huge potential offered by the Chinese market. For developing and least developed countries, the CIIE is an opportunity to be exposed to new export markets and increase their competitiveness through trade.”

Ms González will on 5 November participate in the high-level opening ceremony of CIIE and in the first “Hongqiao International Trade Forum”.

In addition to organizing the participation of MSMEs in the Expo, ITC will also hold a side event related to the Partnership for Investment and Growth in Africa (PIGA) project. This will explore how to facilitate sustainable foreign investments in the agro-processing and light manufacturing sectors in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia. A study on the opportunities and drivers for trade expansion between China and Belt and Road countries in the Asia-Pacific region will also be released in conjunction with CIIE.

ITC’s contribution to CIIE is part of a long-term partnership with China in support of South-South cooperation and trade competitiveness, focusing on least developed countries in Africa and Asia.

Countries supported by ITC to attend CIIE are:  Bangladesh; Bolivia; Cambodia; Ecuador; Ethiopia; the Gambia; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kyrgyzstan; Lao PDR; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nepal; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Tajikistan; Thailand; Uganda; and Zambia.