Exhibitors at the ongoing fifth China International Consumer Products Expo, including those from Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries, are particularly enthusiastic about their participation in the annual event, with many expressing confidence in China's quality high-tech products and vast consumer market of 1.4 billion people.
The fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), running from April 13 to 18 in south China's Hainan Province, has drawn more than 4,100 brands from around the globe, marking its largest edition to date. CICPE is China's only state-level exhibition focused on consumer goods.
Chia Tai, the first ever foreign-funded enterprise entering China after China adopted the policy of reform and opening to the outside world in 1978, has been a staunch supporter of the Chinese market, which never missed any national level exhibition over the past 45 years.
In an interview with China Central Television on the occasion of the group's fifth attendance to the expo, Thanakorn Seriburi, CEO of Industrial Division and Executive Director at Chia Tai Enterprises International Ltd., said that the CICPE has provided them a platform and opportunities.
"I think it is a very good idea to hold the Consumer Products Expo in Hainan, because Chinese products have long been recognized by the rest of the world. Through an international platform like the CICPE, we can attract high-quality products from all over the world to gather here, which will promote exchanges and cooperation among companies from all over the world, so as to produce better products. Foreign companies are also very optimistic about China, a large market with a population of 1.4 billion, and they all hope to cooperate with China. Therefore, both Chinese and foreign high-quality companies want to participate in the expo," he said. Seriburi noted Chia Tai's early adoption of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) technology, including voice-control functions of air conditioning and windows, and expressed interest in exploring AI advancements showcased at the expo to improve product quality and reduce costs.
"China is doing a good job in many aspects, such as electronic technologies, artificial intelligence (AI). Chia Tai is one of the earliest stakeholders introducing Chinese EVs (to Thailand). There are vehicles with the function of voice control, including voice-activation of the air conditioner, window opening and closing, and power-on and power-off. These are all functions that firstly came true on Chinese EVs. Chia Tai Group attaches great importance to the application of AI technology because it can improve our product quality and reduce costs. China has developed AI products in many fields. At this expo, Chia Tai will also pay attention to whether the latest developments in this area can be combined with ours," Thanakorn Seriburi said.
Osim International, a massage chair manufacturer from Singapore, is participating in the expo for the fifth time. The veteran exhibitor echoed this sentiment, with one of its managers claiming that they regard China as a key market in the company's long-term development strategy, and that they are full of confidence in the vitality and prospects of the Chinese market.
"And Hainan Expo is a very good and excellent platform for global brand like us to showcase our innovations and technologies. At the same time, it helps us to expand our market reach into the Chinese market. We are always very optimistic and very [much] driven by the market dynamics and the energy in the Chinese market. And China remains as a very key strategy market for Osim's long term growth. And we start to notice a trend that consumers are looking for better quality and better innovation products in the market. And we continue to expand these by penetrating deeper into the new first-tier cities such as Hangzhou, Suzhou and Chengdu," said Royston Law Tian Boon, head of product strategy at Osim.
This year's expo has a special exhibition area for new product release, with 25 Chinese and international entities as well as 40 brands to launch over 100 serial products and newest single products, covering fields like beauty, electronics, and health care industries.
The RCEP comprises 10 ASEAN member states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, together with their five free-trade partners which are China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Consumer goods expo exhibitors hail China's vast market, innovation
