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(HERALD) Foster ties with China, Zim firms urged

Foster ties with China, Zim firms urged
Friday, 30 March 2012 00:00
Business Reporter

THE Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Oxlink Capital are mobilising Zimbabwean businesses to participate at the 111th edition of the Canton Fair in China. The Canton Fair (also known as the China Import and Export Fair) is the largest bi-annual China trade fairs held in the Guangzhou Province.

Oxlink Capital managing director Mr Brains Muchemwa told Herald Business that the event will assist Zimbabwean businesses willing to do business with China to get a broader appreciation of the opportunities available in that market.

“Canton Fair is the best opportunity for Zimbabwean businesses to meet with Chinese manufacturers and service providers under one roof.
“It is held in Guangzhou, and we are organising a trip for serious local businesses that wish to explore more opportunities from the most diverse Chinese business community brought together.
“Generally, China is a big country and it is therefore very difficult for business people from Zimbabwe to know about and understand more about their potential

business partners, more so considering the language barrier.
“The Canton Fair therefore provides a unique opportunity to meet serious Chinese businesses without having to traverse the whole country,” he said.
This year’s edition is being held in three phases, with each phase focusing on specific sectors. Mr Muchemwa said the trips are therefore being arranged accordingly.
The phases are as follows: Phase one (April 15-19 2012) for the electronics and household electrical appliances, lighting equipment, vehicles and spare parts machinery, hardware and tools, building materials and chemical products sectors.

Phase two (April 23-27 2012) for the consumer goods, gifts and toys, and home decorations sectors.
Phase three (May 1-5 2012) for the textiles and garments, shoes, office supplies, cases and bags, and recreation products, medicines, medical devices and health products, and food and native produce sectors.

The Canton Fair Complex is the largest modernised exhibition centre in Asia, located in Pazhou Island, Guangzhou, China.
The event organisers describe it as “a perfect integration of human and ecological concerns and high technology”. The complex covers a total construction area of 1 100 000m2 with the indoor exhibition area of 338 000m2 and the outdoor exhibition area of 43 600m2.

The complex is in three sections. Area A has an indoor exhibition area of 130 000m2 and an outdoor exhibition area of 30 000m2, while Area B has an indoor exhibition area of 128 000m2 and an outdoor exhibition area of 13 600m2. The Area C has an indoor exhibition area of 80 000m2.
Mr Muchemwa added that Zimbabwean businesses could take the opportunity to negate the effects of the local liquidity challenges by acquiring goods and machinery most cost-efficiently.

“Most of the efficient and competitively priced goods and machinery the world over are now coming out of China, and Zimbabweans, facing funding challenges associated with high cost of credit and short-term loans, need no look further than engaging the Chinese,” he said. Zimbabwe and China have traditionally good bilateral economic ties.

The volume of trade between Zimbabwe and China as at the end of last year is believed to have significantly exceeded the US$560 million realised in 2010.
According to Chinese customs statistics in the first nine months of 2011, trade between the two countries had grown to US$717,3 million in value, a rise of 62,2 percent on the same period the previous year.

Labels: CHINA

posted by MrK @ 2:22 PM