Aerial photo shows the media center of the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, June 3, 2018. Xinhua/China Daily
The Ministry of Commerce has invited businesses that wish to export to China to join a three-day virtual and in-person expo set to be held in eastern China’s Shandong province from April 27-29.
Cambodian businesses can promote their products virtually at no service charge, the ministry said in an announcement, while inviting Chinese firms that export Cambodian products to the event to build up their portfolios.
The 2021 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) International Investment and Trade Expo will be held at Fangyuan Sport Center in Jiaozhou, Qingdao, the ministry said.
“The trade fair aims to showcase and promote general consumer products, including those in energy, finance, logistics, education, tourism and related sectors, as well as China’s international investment projects,” it added.
Cambodia Chamber of Commerce vice-president Lim Heng told The Post that exhibition events as a general rule are a positive for trade and the national economy.
He said participation will enable Cambodia to receive new orders, secure Chinese direct investment and fuel tourism growth.
“Through this event, the participating Cambodian companies will have the opportunity to introduce their new wares to attendees and will be able to place orders directly,” Heng said.
He stressed, however, that setting up events domestically is also an important strategy to draw in more foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Kingdom.
Hong Vanak, director of International Economics at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said China organises and hosts scores of such exhibitions every year – 2020 notwithstanding – and each event marks a fighting chance for the Kingdom to showcase its wares and win more orders.
“The fair is of the first magnitude and will bring loads of benefits to Cambodian and Chinese traders,” he said.
He cautioned, however, that the Kingdom must also take the quality of its products into serious consideration if it wants to foster a strong market.
Ministry spokesman Seang Thay said this is the first time Cambodia has been invited to take part in SCO’s International Investment and Trade Expo.
The trade fair is more tailored towards Shanghai-based companies with operations and investments abroad, he said, noting that no Cambodian firms have informed the ministry of their interest in the event since the announcement was issued on February 23.
SCO, the event’s organiser, “was established as a multilateral association to ensure security and maintain stability across the vast Eurasian region, join forces to counteract emerging challenges and threats, and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation”, according to Rashid Alimov, a former secretary-general who also served as Tajikistan’s foreign minister in 1992-1994.
