(The 4th CIIE) Interview｜ Chief Representative of Japan External Trade Organization Shanghai: CIIE is the most suitable platform for Japanese companies to develop in China

　　China News Service, November 6th (Reporter Miao Lu) Dazzling Japanese sake, all kinds of exquisite Japanese snacks, and live performances of Japanese traditional Awa dance, enter the Japan Trade Promotion Agency at the 4th CIIE The (JETRO) exhibition area is like being on the streets of Japan, and the tablet computers supported by brackets next to each booth become a unique landscape of this Japanese-style space.

　　Kenji Mizuta, chief representative of JETRO Shanghai representative office, introduced in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency that this is an online participation method specially launched for the 4th CIIE, which can facilitate real-time online negotiations between Chinese buyers and Japanese companies.

　　Kenji Shui Tian said that because of the epidemic, many Japanese companies were unable to come to the Expo site this year, but they hope to do business in China as before. The Expo is a good channel and can be used in Japan that cannot come to China. Establish a communication platform between sellers and Chinese buyers who want to buy Japanese goods.

"We want to let them not miss every opportunity as much as possible."

Photo by Sun Ran, Jetro booth

　　As the representative organization of the Japanese government in China, JETRO has helped Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the CIIE since the first CIIE in 2018, curating 3 exhibition areas for food, medical and consumer goods every year.

According to reports, there are about 300 Japanese companies exhibiting this year, and the booth area has expanded from 2,500 square meters last year to 2,900 square meters, which shows the interest of Japanese companies in the CIIE.

　　In fact, at the third CIIE, JETRO set up online and offline exhibitions at the same time for the first time. This method won great market recognition, and a Japanese aquatic product company received orders from Chinese buyers with hundreds of millions of yuan.

Kenji Paddy said: "Last year we were a big computer and needed to queue up for cloud conversations. This year we made some improvements. Each booth was equipped with a tablet. Japanese merchants were also equipped with Chinese translations. There is only a one-hour time difference, which makes the way of cloud participation more accessible."

Japanese companies in the Jetro exhibition area go out of the booth. Photo by Sun Ran

　　Kenji Mizuta believes that Japanese companies have always had a great interest in the CIIE, and this year it is obvious that there are more types of participating companies.

At present, Japan's economic activities are gradually recovering, and a good connection has been formed by participating in the CIIE. It is predicted that economic activities will have a big swing after the epidemic has passed.

　　"I tell Japanese companies every year that the CIIE is the most suitable platform for your development in China, because it is a national standard exhibition, and its influence and appeal are incomparable to ordinary private exhibitions. It gathers A large number of buyers have glued the needs of buyers and sellers together, which is a win-win situation. We are also doing various projects to promote the development of Japanese companies in China, but since 2018, the CIIE has become us The most important event of the year." Said Kenji Paddy.

　　Through the CIIE, Japanese companies can better understand the needs of the Chinese market. This year, some Japanese companies are targeting China's silver-haired economy, launching nursing beds and safe baths for the elderly, hoping to gain the favor of Chinese elderly care institutions.

　　Kenji Paddy said that the CIIE, as the world’s first import-themed national-level exhibition, is a major initiative taken by China to open its market to the world. Its spillover effects are continuing to show up, providing Japanese companies with continued access to the epidemic. New development opportunities provide an important platform.

　　Thanks to the "6+365" policy support of the CIIE, during the 4th CIIE, a permanent "Japan Pavilion" covering an area of ​​1,000 square meters will be opened in the Hongqiao Business District, covering nearly 2,000 types of daily life. Japanese products will be displayed here all year round to help Japanese companies continue to develop sales in the Chinese market.

　　"It is not enough to rely on 6 days of the CIIE. It is very important to create a platform that allows Japanese sellers and Chinese buyers to communicate at any time. It can be estimated that this year's contract volume will blow out." Said Kenji.

(over)