Business leader urges Cambodians to attend Hainan Expo in April

• Published date: 10 March 2023
• Publication title: The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) vice-president Lim Heng has called on the local business community to take part in the 3rd China International Consumer Products Expo - or Hainan Expo - to be held in Haikou city, Hainan province, China from April 11-15, to study the market and seek partners to expand commerce on the back of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

In a statement, the Ministry of Commerce described the Hainan Expo as one of China's biggest trade fairs, which it said has - in previous years - gathered 'high-quality' consumer products by more than 2,800 businesses from more than 60 countries.

Sideline events including the Global Consumption Forum, Business and Investment Forum, Promotional Conference, along with trade and cultural exchanges, also aim to create opportunities for international business and market expansions, it said.

To step up trade, investment and other economic cooperation between Cambodia and China, as well as with other international partners, 'the Organising Committee would like to invite the Cambodian companies [that are] currently doing business, in all sectors, to participate in the above-mentioned expo', the ministry said.

The CCC's Heng described the expo as a platform for local businesspeople to learn more about market demand, seek Chinese partners, and leverage the Kingdom's strengths to attract more investments and expand agricultural exports to the Chinese market, supported by the Cambodia-China FTA (CCFTA) - which took effect on January 1, 2022.

'It is a good opportunity for our business community to participate in the expo, and better understand market demand and export procedures as well as to seek business partners,' he said, arguing that more engagement is needed to maximise the benefits of the FTA.

An FTA is an international treaty between two or more economies...