The 137th China Import And Export Fair (Canton Fair) Opens In GuangZhou
The 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) opens In GuangZhou
On April 15th, the 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) opened. The exhibition scale of this year's Canton Fair remains at 1.55 million square meters, with a total of 55 exhibition areas and approximately 74000 booths. For the first time, the number of participating companies has exceeded 30000, an increase of nearly 900 compared to the previous edition. According to the report of China Foreign Trade Center, as of April 13, more than 200000 overseas purchasers from 215 countries and regions had pre registered for the Canton Fair, and 255 large enterprises such as Carrefour of France, Tesco of Britain, and Metro AG of Germany had confirmed their participation. Among these large commercial enterprises, there are 97 from Asia, 71 from Europe, and 52 from North America.
As an international consumption center city, how can Guangzhou seize the exhibition consumption window during the Canton Fair, fully leverage its home advantage, and turn traffic into "retention"? As early as this year's government work report, Guangzhou proposed to implement the "Canton Fair+" initiative. This is also the first time that Guangzhou has mentioned this keyword in a government work report. When the curtain of this comprehensive international trade event is lifted and the "Canton Fair+" is implemented, Guangzhou is taking action.
As the "host" of the Canton Fair, Guangzhou is comprehensively improving its urban service level through "embroidery skills" and innovating to create a "3E" urban service system, namely Efficient Biz (efficient business), Easy Go (convenient travel), and Enjoy Life (enjoyable life).
To capture traffic, before the opening of the Canton Fair, key commercial districts in Guangzhou, the "Young City Yeah City" pilot zone, and commercial enterprises launched exclusive shopping, dining, and other discounts and benefits for Canton Fair merchants.
There are nearly 200000 market merchants in Guangzhou. During the Canton Fair, Guangzhou will organize over 70 trade docking activities and invite merchants to visit more than 500 wholesale markets and product belts in Guangzhou.
Canton Fair+Exhibition
Riding on the "Canton Fair", industry exhibitions and consumer exhibitions are all on stage
On April 9th, the Ministry of Commerce held a special press conference for the 137th Canton Fair, and Wei Min, Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, stated that during the fair, Guangzhou will launch over 300 "Canton Fair+" series of activities, allowing nearly one million people from over 200 countries and regions around the world to immerse themselves in the charm of "Guangzhou style life" and experience a diverse urban journey while negotiating cooperation. This includes multiple consumer and industry exhibitions, such as the Canton Fair Music and Food Festival, Guangzhou International Hair Products and Beauty Eyelash Industry Exhibition, etc.
The Canton Fair Music and Food Festival - "Eating in Guangzhou" Carnival also opened today, attracting nearly 40 catering enterprises to participate, covering Guangzhou's time-honored brands, famous Cantonese restaurants, intangible cultural heritage cuisine, star rated restaurants, and emerging trendy beverage brands, presenting a food festival of "combining northern and southern flavors, and gathering Chinese and Western cuisine".
In addition to delicious food, the carnival also carefully arranged rich cultural performances and intangible cultural heritage experience activities. Rao Baolian, a national inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, showed his exquisite Paper Cuttings skills on the spot, attracting a large number of Chinese and foreign businessmen to stop and enjoy. Traditional techniques such as cloisonn é enamel and Chinese knot weaving allow viewers to experience the unique charm of Lingnan culture more intuitively through interactive experiences.
From morning tea Dim sum to Cantonese home style, from Chinese time-honored brands to new and cutting-edge brands, the essence of Guangzhou's food culture was displayed one by one in this event. Wang Xiaohua, a municipal level investigator of Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, said that "food in Guangzhou" is not only the city card of Guangzhou, but also the accumulation of food culture in the business capital for thousands of years. This event organically links the exhibition economy, tourism economy, and nighttime economy, promoting the diversified upgrading of the exhibition economy. With the help of the Canton Fair as a global trade window, the brand culture of "eating in Guangzhou" will step onto a broader world stage and become a new business card for "cultural globalization".
In addition, a themed forum on "Brand Going Global" will be held simultaneously during the event, providing a precise platform for Guangzhou catering enterprises and international buyers to connect and help Guangzhou catering brands explore international markets.
Prior to the Canton Fair, the Guangzhou International Hair Products Expo and 2025 Beauty and Eyelash Industry Expo (referred to as "Guangfa Fair") was held in Guangzhou. This is the first international professional exhibition in China that focuses on hair product foreign trade, attracting 214 companies to participate, covering the entire industry chain of hair product production, sales, raw material supply, brand promotion, cross-border logistics and other related enterprises. It also gathers elite forces from multiple wig industry clusters across the country, including hair product merchants in Xuchang, Henan, Juancheng, Shandong, Qingdao and other places. Many exhibitors' products have been exported to many countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea.
At the meeting, the Guangzhou tax system interpreted the "9810 export tax refund" policy on site. At the same time, the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce also held the fifth "Cross border E-commerce+Industrial Belt" special event to assist hair product enterprises in expanding overseas markets. The exhibition hall has also set up a special area for collective group buying of old for new products, providing consumers with dual benefits of "national subsidies+enterprise concessions", accelerating the implementation and effectiveness of the old for new subsidy policy. It is reported that the intended transaction volume of Guangfa on the morning of the first day has exceeded 50 million yuan.
It is reported that Guangzhou, as an important trading center for hair products, has a huge group of cross-border e-commerce wig merchants with an annual transaction volume of over 6 billion US dollars. With a complete hair product industry ecosystem and convenient transportation and logistics network, Guangzhou is a key hub for global hair product procurement and sales. In addition, mature offline trading markets such as Meibo City and Mingshang Tiandi Leading Market have also gathered nearly a hundred hair product merchants, whose operating conditions are good, with a total annual turnover of up to 10 billion yuan, demonstrating the strong commercial vitality of Guangzhou's hair product market.
Canton Fair+Industry
Over 70 trade matchmaking events have entered more than 500 markets in Guangzhou
The Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce revealed that during the Canton Fair, Guangzhou will organize over 70 trade docking activities and invite merchants to visit more than 500 wholesale markets and product belts in Guangzhou. As a "millennium commercial city", Guangzhou has nearly 200000 market merchants and has formed influential industrial clusters in textile, clothing, leather goods and other fields both domestically and internationally.
Currently, the "Professional Market and TA's Friends" series of activities is underway in Guangzhou. To promote the transformation and upgrading of the professional market, the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce has joined forces with the Professional Market Association to create a "circle of friends" for the professional market from different links such as the industrial chain, financial institutions, platform enterprises, and news media, and jointly create an industry ecosystem. On April 10th, the first batch of professional market "friends" came to Zhonggang Leather Goods City, Baili NYC Square, Baiyun World Leather Goods Trade Center, and Baiyun Meiwan Square for research.
In the afternoon of that day, the professional wholesale market in Sanyuanli was bustling with people. From time to time, foreign buyers could be seen selecting goods, and merchants were also busy organizing their goods. After moving here, one or two foreign customers come in to visit almost every day, "said a merchant who had just moved to Guangzhou for a month at Zhonggang Leather Goods City.
If merchants want to continue going abroad and expand their customer base, they will definitely have to participate in the Canton Fair, "the person in charge of Baili NYC Square told Southern Metropolis Daily reporters. The merchants in the square mainly engage in foreign trade, and the Canton Fair is the main window for merchants to connect with new customers.
In order to better connect with foreign resources, Belle NYC Plaza has created the Belle NYC Brand Pavilion internally, which gathers multiple high-quality brands and products for centralized display. The purpose of building a brand hall is to strengthen brand cultivation, encourage original design, accelerate digital transformation, and improve the business environment, striving to turn Sanyuanli into a leather goods industry highland integrating fashion design, online sales and international trade. This is just a part of the transformation and upgrading of the square. "Baili now focuses on leather goods related industries, while introducing supporting businesses such as Hilton and Tianhao Coffee," said the person in charge of Baili NYC Square. In order to carry out the upgrade and transformation, the square has invested more than 100 million yuan. After three years of upgrading and transformation, the square has become a comprehensive leather goods commercial entity integrating leather goods bags, catering and entertainment, hotels, culture and art.
In fact, the upgrading and transformation of other professional markets in Guangzhou are also in full swing. In recent years, Zhonggang Leather Goods City has invested over 60 million yuan in software and hardware upgrades; Baiyun Meiwan Plaza has become the largest beauty industry cluster in China, providing one-stop procurement of beauty products; The Baiyun World Leather Goods Trade Center has become a "five-star professional market" recognized by the China Leather Association. Next, we will have more professional wholesale markets for comprehensive iteration and transformation and upgrading, "said Xiao Xiuling, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Sanyuanli Street. In the past decade, Guangzhou's professional market has made many breakthroughs and upgrades in hardware, software, and models. "At the event, Li Ying, Secretary General of the Guangzhou Market Chamber of Commerce, said that Guangzhou's professional market is radiating new vitality.
Guangzhou's foreign trade enterprises must attach greater importance to the platform role of the Canton Fair. On April 11th, the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electrical Products (China Chamber of Commerce). Wu Weihua, Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, called on foreign trade enterprises to take the initiative and make every effort to grab orders. It is reported that with this signing, Guangzhou has joined hands with national level associations to empower the electromechanical industry to accelerate its "going global". Both sides will engage in in-depth cooperation in areas such as industrial upgrading, international cooperation, optimization of the business environment, and response to trade frictions, in order to create a higher ground for the electromechanical industry with greater international influence. The Mechanical and Electrical Industry Committee of Guangzhou Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Enterprise Association was also announced at the event.
From the current structure of foreign trade imports and exports in Guangzhou, the United States accounts for 13.1% of the city's imports and exports, RCEP (14 countries) accounts for 32%, ASEAN (10 countries) accounts for 18.3%, and the European Union (excluding the United Kingdom) accounts for 15.4%. The relevant person in charge of the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce stated that in the future, Guangzhou will also promote enterprises to form alliances and "go global", actively organize enterprises to participate in the 2025 Guangdong Trade Global Activity, select key exhibitions that meet Guangzhou's advantageous industry exports, and focus on organizing enterprises to explore markets such as the East Asian League, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia, in addition to Europe, America, Hong Kong, and Macao. For enterprises that participate in the selected exhibition and promote the overall image of Guangzhou region (no less than 5 enterprises) under the name of "Guanghuo Youpin · Guangmao Global" through continuous display and exhibition setup, each enterprise will be given a quota reward for each standard booth.
Canton Fair+Consumption
Several events attract foreign guests and release the 'Guangzhou Gravity' in multiple dimensions
How to ride the Canton Fair to achieve consumption expansion?
Cultural and tourism activities are one of the important means to attract merchants. During this year's Canton Fair, Guangzhou has prepared a variety of cultural experiences and tourism explorations for overseas merchants. For example, the airport has set up a free one-day tour service point for international transit merchants in Guangzhou, and launched classic tourist routes, covering historical blocks, landmark buildings, the Pearl River Night Tour and other classic attractions, connecting the millennium old Beijing Road, the top of the cloud Guangzhou Tower, and the the Pearl River Night Tour Golden Waterway.
It is reported that Guangzhou will collaborate with the upcoming 15th National Games in the Greater Bay Area to hold the "Flower City is Lucky, Welcoming the National Games" invitation ceremony, allowing guests to experience the surging passion of the Greater Bay Area amidst the sound of Chimelong Happy World and the silver clothing of Rongchuang Snow World. The first Beibei Art Season, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra Music Season, and multiple celebrity concerts will be held one after another, creating a wonderful and colorful "Guangzhou Night".
To capture traffic, before the opening of the Canton Fair, key commercial districts in Guangzhou, the "Young City Yeah City" pilot zone, and commercial enterprises launched exclusive shopping, dining, and other discounts and benefits for Canton Fair merchants.
At Guangzhou Tianhuan, valid attendance credentials for this year's Canton Fair can be used to receive exclusive membership benefits and gift packages, including a Guangzhou Metro one-day card, welcome drinks, and retail and dining electronic consumption vouchers. Guangzhou K11 has also launched exclusive tourist benefits, including limited edition refrigerator stickers for city landmarks K11, fixed price coupon packages for scheduled travel, and numerous brand exclusive discounts; There is also a 50% discount on the fashion and art exhibition 'Instant Fantasy'. Zhengjia Square also offers ticket discounts. With valid participation credentials from the Canton Fair, you can enjoy a 50% discount on the standard tickets of Zhengjia Natural Science Exploration Center.
In addition, shopping malls also offer discounts and promotions for purchases of different types of products. For example, at the Tianhe Zhongyi store of Guangbai Department Store, customers can purchase different types of products with different discounts and promotions based on their valid participation credentials at the Canton Fair. In addition, special gifts will also be given as gifts when the purchase amount is reached. Tianhe City Shopping Center has launched an electronic coupon promotion where customers can scan the QR code in store to receive a discount of 80 yuan for orders over 600 yuan.
Not only that, in order to facilitate overseas merchants and enhance their consumption experience in Guangzhou, Guangzhou has also launched the "Guidelines for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan residents and foreigners to participate in the Guangzhou 2025 Consumer Goods Trade in Activity". Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan residents and foreigners who meet the relevant conditions can also participate in the Consumer Goods Trade in Activity.
Canton Fair+Services
Taking multiple measures to build a "3E" urban service system
Wei Min revealed that as the "host" of the Canton Fair, Guangzhou is comprehensively improving its urban service level through "embroidery skills" and innovatively creating a "3E" urban service system, namely Efficient Biz (efficient business), Easy Go (convenient travel), and Enjoy Life (happy life).
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Pazhou Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, Nansha Ferry Port and other five major ports, as the first stop for global merchants arriving in Guangzhou, have established convenient channels for Canton Fair guests to further strengthen multilingual passenger clearance guidance.
In response to the demand for cross-border freight transportation, Guangzhou Customs is preparing to introduce convenient measures such as on-site services, one-stop service, simplified regulatory procedures, and convenient exhibition of food, cosmetics, and animal and plant products to innovate the customs clearance mode of airports and sea (river) ports, fully ensuring the convenient clearance of exhibits.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has implemented convenient measures such as "priority handling for important and emergency cargo planes, direct round-trip and connecting flights without handling", to help global exhibits "come and go quickly" and efficiently clear customs. The passenger ferry schedules at Pazhou Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal will be increased from the usual "3 in and 3 out" to "7 in and 5 out", providing exhibitors with more flexible travel options.
At the same time, 69 overseas purchasing hotels located in six districts of Guangzhou, including Haizhu, Tianhe, and Yuexiu, have set up convenient points for obtaining Canton Fair documents, making it easy for exhibitors to apply for Canton Fair documents as soon as they arrive at their hotels in Guangzhou. During the Canton Fair, Guangzhou will also strengthen big data analysis and peak warning of traffic and pedestrian flow at the entrance of the exhibition hall, further optimize the flow of key intersections and pedestrian monitoring, implement classified guidance and rapid verification, and improve entry efficiency.
