CIIE 2023: ICCF and AICE with 30 companies at the sixth edition

The sixth China International Import Expo was held last November 5-10. 

Again this year, as since the first edition, Italy China Council Foundation-ICCF and AICE-Italian Association of Foreign Trade participated in the role of fair representatives for Italy, officially delegated since 2018 by MOFCOM, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade. With them this year was a delegation of thirty Italian companies, including the institutional participation of the Puglia Region, which was present in two exhibition areas within the Healthcare and Lifestyle pavilions. Several ICCF Members and Board Members visited the fair together with the delegation supported by the Milan-based entity, which also collaborated in the realization of the Forum organized by Member ICBC-International and Commercial Bank of China, which was held on Monday, November 6, in Shanghai.

The presence of Italian exhibitors was promoted through dedicated tools by the fair organizers and through specific mailings with ICCF partners in China to encourage and support matchmaking activities between Chinese buyers and our exhibiting companies.

Guests from 154 countries, regions and international organizations arrived in Shanghai: more than 3,400 exhibitors and 394 thousand trade visitors registered to attend, numbers that bring the Chinese fair back to pre-pandemic levels.

"This edition is definitely the one of recovery" said Mario Boselli, ICCF's Chairman. "As much as the event was successfully carried on even with digital connections during the pandemic years, seeing the booths crowded with people was definitely a strong and positive signal. We are proud to have participated in the CIIE again and especially this year, as in previous years, because we are sure that the return of Italian exhibitors here in Shanghai will give a big boost to our imports to China and the signing of agreements and contracts, and all this can only strengthen our relations and exchanges with the Chinese market."

Over the past six editions, the China International Import Expo has distinguished itself as one of the world's leading platforms for promoting purchasing, investment and trade between China and the rest of the world. An event that over the years has brought together hundreds of countries and helped grow Chinese imports, with the goal of reaching a total value of $22 trillion in imported goods by 2030 as indicated by Beijing authorities. The CIIE, the world's first nationwide exhibition dedicated to imports, symbolizes China's willingness to open up to the rest of the world and its desire to grow consumption by also focusing on quality products from abroad.