Despite the huge distance, more than 70 ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Asia Nations) firms are seeking partners at the second
Northeast Asia Investment and Trade expo.
In the Exhibition Hall of Changchun International Exhibition
Center, ASEAN firms' booths exhibiting native products, such as
rosewood furniture, shell gift items and seafood, were surrounded
by curious visitors.
"We have found a new and promising market in northeast China.
Our products are very popular here and our samples have almost sold
out," said Benjamin Kalalo, managing director of the Philippine
Exporters Confederation and co-chairman of the Philippine trade
group.
According to Benjamin Kalalo, 15 Philippine enterprises are
taking part in the expo with 20 booths displaying traditional
products like houseware, accessories, wood and shell gift
items.
"It's my second time at the expo. Many other companies from the
Philippines would like to do business in the vast northeast market,
which offers us new opportunities," he said.
Taking advantage of geographical proximity, ASEAN enterprises
have built up long-standing economic relations with their
counterparts in southern China and targeted the China-ASEAN Expo
held in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous
Region.
"This expo has opened another window for us in the Chinese
market," said Daw Htay Kywe, head of the Myanmar trade group.
Enterprises from Myanmar occupied three exhibition booths at the
trade expo. Many visitors showed keen interest in their furniture
and jade accessories and some Chinese business people had
volunteered to act as agents for them, according to Daw Htay
Kywe.
Besides expanding their business territory, the ASEAN firms were
also hunting for Chinese partners to develop new technology.
He has another mission at the expo apart from promoting
Philippine products, and he wants to find some clean energy
equipment developers in China, as he knew China has mature solar
and wind energy technologies, and he need them in the Philippines,
said Benjamin Kalalo.
The Philippine businessman said he was very interested in the
solar products of Shanghai-based Roy Solar Co. and Shenzhen-based
Topway Solar Co. and was hoping to fly to the two cities after the
expo to discuss cooperation opportunities.
More than 40,000 officials and company representatives from 51
countries and regions are taking part in the five-day Northeast
Asia Trade and Investment Expo, which opened Saturday in Changchun,
capital of northeast China's Jilin Province. The event is
co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and Jilin Provincial
Commercial Department.
(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2006)