Transactions concluded during the Canton Fair are commensurable with Bulgaria’s GDP

 On 20th June 2011, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, China Foreign Trade Center and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sofia organized a presentation of the Canton Fair in China. The 110th edition of the fair will take place in the period 15th October – 4th November in Guangzhou Province, China. China Import and Export Fair – Canton Fair plays a key role in developing China’s foreign trade and economic relations. Established in 1957, this important channel of Chinese foreign trade ranks first among the exhibitions in China. The Fair is organized by China Foreign Trade Center every spring and autumn.

The Ambassador of China to Bulgaria, H.E. Guo Yezhou welcomed more than 150 Bulgarian businessmen – participants in the presentation, saying that Bulgaria is an important partner of China. In China our country is famous for its wine, rose oil and yoghurt. The Ambassador also stressed the fact that in 2010 trade turnover between the two countries grew by 18% as compared to the previous year. The increase is mainly due to the 84% growth of Bulgarian export.

The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov also greeted the participants in the presentation, saying that he had a very productive meeting with Mr. Wang Runsheng, Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Center. During the meeting the successful execution of the agreement signed between BCCI and China Foreign Trade Center in 2009 was noted. The conviction that Bulgarian business must make efforts to be presented in China in order to broaden its horizon and expand its opportunities to sell its products on the Chinese market, and even to buy the appropriate competitive Chinese products, was confirmed.

“The volume of transactions concluded during the Canton Fair is commensurable with Bulgaria’s GDP”, Mr. Simeonov reminded.

“I use this opportunity to send another message to Bulgarian business circles, including the scientific circles – we seem to have forgotten that fairs provide an opportunity to present our innovative solutions, both in industry and science. Exhibiting an innovative product has two purposes – first, it may help find financing even for the science sector. In the last years, Chinese entrepreneurs proved that they decide to implement innovations very quickly and dynamically.” The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that once an innovation is shown at a fair, it preserves the priority of the exhibitor in case later there are disputes over the ownership of the innovation and who shall be registered as the patent holder.

Finally, Mr. Simeonov announced that BCCI was officially invited by the management of the Canton Fair to visit the exhibition, which will be held in the period 15th October – 4th November this year. Soon the specific conditions for participation will be sent by e-mail and will be available directly on BCCI’s website.

Mr. Wang Runsheng, Deputy Director General of China Foreign Trade Center presented the fair. It is the oldest fair, with the largest importance, which provides the biggest variety of exhibited products and has the best business turnover. More than 200 000 foreign buyers from 209 countries visited the previous 109th edition of the fair, which explains the business turnover of over USD 36 billion reached. This is 5.8% higher than the previous edition. More than 20 000 Chinese companies participate in the fair each year after a selection from thousands of candidates. More than 150 000 different Chinese and foreign products are exhibited at the fair. Every year 40% of all presented products are new. The Canton Fair reflects the progress and development of China’s foreign trade as well as the protection of intellectual property of the fair. The number of stands with Chinese and foreign products at the 110th Canton Fair will exceed 58 000. Traditionally, there will be a special exhibition area for foreign goods.

The participants in the presentation were invited to participate in or to visit the 110th Canton Fair in China and to choose the products “made in China.

20.06.2011