Over the past decade, economic and trade cooperation between China and the Belt and Road countries has been rising. Customs statistics show that in the first quarter, China's imports and exports to the "Belt and Road" countries reached 4.82 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.5%, and the proportion of the total import and export value further increased to 47.4%.
China's foreign trade enterprises, which are interested in the broad market potential and development space of the "Belt and Road" countries, continue to deepen and solidify their pace of going overseas. At the same time, on the way to embrace China's economy and find cooperation opportunities, there is no shortage of "bringing goods" experts in the countries of the "Belt and Road".
Reborn from within, glowing with kinetic energy
Shanghai Langfeng Industrial Co., Ltd., which occupies a global leading position in the production of safety shoes and personal protective equipment, has recently received more than 30 buyers from Mongolia, Mauritius, Jordan and other countries that have been jointly built along the Belt and Road.
"The company has a number of agents in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the popularity of its own brand 'Safetoe' has increased year by year, and the performance in the African market in the past two years is also very bright, growing rapidly, and we will focus on developing the South American ......market in the next step," Langfeng revealed that the current "Belt and Road" market accounts for about 70% of the company's total exports.
The secret of Langfeng is to be guided by customer needs, and design safety protection products with different purposes according to different working scenarios. For example, oil-resistant safety shoes suitable for the oil and gas industry, insulated safety shoes suitable for the energy and power industry, and ultra-light safety shoes suitable for the logistics and warehousing industry.
Continuously improving endogenous power is the premise of developing a diversified international market. Zhejiang Baixing Food Co., Ltd., which is deeply involved in the "Belt and Road" market, is in a leading position in the industry for the processing and extension of mushroom products such as ready-to-eat convenience food, snack food, condiment, mushroom health food, edible fungal enzyme and other industrial chains. Many products are sold to the "Belt and Road" countries.
At the Canton Fair, Baixing Company and buyers from Serbia, Romania and other Balkan Peninsula reached a preliminary order of 200,000 US dollars. "This is thanks to the 'three nos' product we have developed!" Yu Qilong, the person in charge of foreign trade of Baixing Company, smiled and talked with pride. The "three nos" in his mouth refer to no chemical flavors, no pigments, no preservatives and no MSG.
The market is vast and digitally empowered
In the face of sluggish growth in traditional markets such as Europe and the United States, and the rapid rise in the markets of countries jointly built by the Belt and Road, some foreign trade enterprises have actively taken advantage of the developed digital economy and the leading advantages of cross-border e-commerce, and have summed up many good practices in using digital channels to develop the "Belt and Road" market.
This year, more foreign trade enterprises will carry out online webcasts to negotiate with overseas buyers, especially those of the "Belt and Road" in the "cloud". During the on-site negotiation, the salesman will also take the initiative to invite buyers to watch the live broadcast of online products, display every detail of the product at close range through the camera lens 360°, and constantly switch the lens at the request of the buyer to show the entire process of the enterprise in scientific and technological research and development, production and processing, circulation inspection and even packing and transportation, and make full use of digital technologies such as online display, VR factory viewing, 3D photography, etc., to lead merchants to "in-depth tour on the cloud".
"We conducted a special survey on the participation of buyers from the 'Belt and Road' countries and the market demand in advance, and adjusted the structure of the exhibitors." The person in charge of Tianjin Yisida Import and Export Co., Ltd. said that the company has launched a series of new pencils and colored pencils for Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South America and other regions, and the varieties and specifications are subject to local aesthetics and usage habits, and it has signed a contract with a Malaysian customer.
Play to your strengths and take it in stride
"At present, our traditional cupping machines are mainly exported to Arab countries. In fact, many foreign customers have a higher recognition of traditional Chinese medicine than we imagined! The company hopes to open up more new markets through the Canton Fair platform, so that people all over the world can understand the therapy of TCM cupping. The person in charge of Yongkang Kangfei Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. smiled. The company's new intelligent electric cupping moxibustion instrument has attracted many Arab buyers.
The differentiated competitive advantage of China's massage and health care appliances is being reflected in emerging markets. According to the data of the Medical Insurance Chamber of Commerce, in 2023, China will make positive progress in exporting massage and health care appliances to ASEAN represented by Malaysia and the "Belt and Road" countries. Among them, the export value of massage and health care equipment to Malaysia was 174 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 70.4%; The export value to Russia was 140 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 75.4%.
"There is already a phased consumption of massage chairs in the Malaysian market, which has contributed greatly to the growth of mainland exports." The relevant person in charge of the Medical Insurance Chamber of Commerce said that in the face of many severe and complex factors in the international market, massage and health appliance export enterprises pay attention to innovation and differentiated competition, and new products, new technologies and new models have been unveiled.
For example, in terms of manufacturing capabilities, innovation and intelligence are constantly presented, and the integration of AI and a new generation of movements makes the massage and health care appliances that can be customized highlight the personalization, and the precision massage is comparable to that of real people; Adhering to the concept of traditional Chinese medicine acupoint massage, the massage and health care appliances have been recognized by many foreign businessmen. In terms of marketing model, online new media operation is combined with offline channel development, and more products are delivered to global users with the help of the vigorous development of cross-border e-commerce.
"In 2023, China's exports of massage and health care appliances will achieve positive year-on-year growth. This fully reflects the resilience and vitality of China's massage and health care equipment industry after more than 30 years of development, as a global R&D, production and export base for massage and health care appliances. With the joint efforts of the government, industry and enterprises, China's exports of massage and health care appliances are expected to achieve steady growth in 2024, and high-quality development will also reach a new level. The person in charge of the above-mentioned medical insurance chamber of commerce said.
Reporter: Liu Xin
Source: International Business Daily