The world’s largest import fair has become a vital platform for Hong Kong firms to bypass traditional market entry barriers and secure business deals in mainland China, according to exhibitors from the city.
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Hong Kong exhibitors at the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai said they had secured new contacts with mainland manufacturers and even received investment inquiries from different cities.
“Some mega mainland investors, including hospitals, are interested in our products and have asked us for collaboration during the expo,” said Wong Ho-yin, founder of HairCoSys, a start-up that uses AI technology to assess hair quality.
Wong, whose company is part of HK Tech 300, an innovation programme launched by City University, said his participation in the annual expo provided a “golden chance” to showcase products to corporate clients rather than individual consumers.
He added that his firm had collaborated with several private clinics in Hong Kong and was seeking opportunities to expand into the mainland market.
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“Apart from the large-scale investors, we also hope to approach the business sector, including clinics and salons on the mainland, which we usually find difficult to approach,” he said.