As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes on the 5th of November, 2019, the opening ceremony of the Chinese International Import Fair, which is being held for the second time in Shanghai in order to increase imports and reduce trade surplus, has featured four companies from Croatia, with a total of twelve more Croatian businessmen attending the Croatian-Chinese Business Forum.
The forum has been organised by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), and in addition to presenting Croatia’s economic and investment potential, more than thirty Chinese companies have expressed interest in concrete business talks with Croatian entrepreneurs. Among the companies whose representatives have travelled to Shanghai, some are already successfully operating on that huge market, but small, little-known companies are also testing the ground.
Pan Parket, Podravka, Zdenka, Inovatus Services, Adiratic health & care travel agency, Exotrade Rijeka, Education Travel Worldwide, Foto revija, Milena, and even the agricultural cooperative Gospoja iz Vrbnika and AMPnet IO and Intereuropa Global are looking for new opportunities in this populous country.
This year, the fair brought together around 150 countries and regions, as well as international organisations, with nearly 4,000 companies presenting themselves on a staggering 400,000 square feet of exhibition space.
The fair was officially opened by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who sent out the message that it is important that there is mutual understanding and that people can connect, while preventing wars, protectionism and unilateralism. According to the organisers, last year, the first Import Fair was effective – 90 percent of the deals were completed, with a contract value of around 52 billion euros in total.
The Croatian Chamber of Commerce, which officially opened its representative office in Shanghai during the last fair, pointed out that Chinese interest in cooperating with companies from Croatia is growing, especially after the 16 + 1/17 + 1 Summit in Dubrovnik. The Croatian Chamber of Commerce also allows companies from Croatia who are interested in doing business in China to use their office space, and so far, they say, about 20 companies have expressed interest.
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