FIEOs participation as Lead Agency for India Pavilion at the 1st China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai

[FIEO/PUB/PR/37/21/2018 dated November 5, 2018]

The 1st China International Import Expo (CIIE) started today that is from November 5-10, 2018 at the National Exhibition & Convention Centre, Shanghai, China. The event is focused on imports and is being organized as a collaborative platform for countries and regions to showcase their development achievements and conduct International trade.

India Pavilion at the Expo was inaugurated today by Dr Anup Wadhawan, Commerce Secretary, Government of India. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has been designated as a lead agency to set-up Country Pavilion in CIIE, Shanghai by the Government of India along with other stakeholders like Ministry of Tourism, APEDA, NAFED, MPEDA, SEPC, Pharmexcil etc to showcase India’s strength in diverse sectors. The focused sectors for this year in the Country Pavilion are Food and Agro Products, Pharmaceuticals, IT & ITes, Tourism and Services Sector.

The sectors chosen are extremely important for exports to China as China’s share in overall exports is extremely low said Dr Ajay Sahai, DG & CEO, FIEO. India exported pharmaceutical products worth USD 15.6 billion in 2017-18 but exports to China was only USD 41 million, a share of 0.2%. In marine products, exports to China was USD 161 million out of total exports of USD 7.4 Billion, a miniscule share of 2.17%. In agri sector also (leaving tobacco), China’s share in our exports is less than 2.8%. In IT & ITES, the share is less than 1% though we exported software worth USD 126 Billion globally during the last fiscal. This provides huge opportunity to increase our exports to China which is further supported by the tariff war between US and China said Dr Sahai.

China is India’s largest trading partner with a total trade reaching to USD 89.71 billion in 2017-18. With India’s exports of USD 13.33 billion, the trade balance is highly in favor of China. The CIIE will provide a platform for increasing India’s exports to China. Interactions between the two sides will also expedite market access issues particularly for pharma, IT & ITES, agro and processed food etc.

FIEO is consistently making sincere efforts to promote India’s exports to China. This has been achieved through continuous engagement of Indian businessmen with China by way of participation in established International exhibitions in China on a regular basis. FIEO is an Indian agent for participation in Canton fair wherein every year more than 200 Indian companies participate. Besides more than 200 businessmen participates in the Kunming and Chengdu Fair in different province of China every year through FIEO. The participation in these events has helped Indian companies to showcase their products to the Chinese buyers and enter into long term business relations. It has also equipped them with market intelligence and enhance exports. The participation in 1st CIIE is another step in this direction.

With the world’s largest population, China is the second largest economy, as well as the second largest importer and consumer in the world. Now China has entered a new development stage at which consumption keeps increasing, indicating enormous potential for the growth of consumption and import. In the next five years, China is expecting to import products and services valuing more than 10 trillion US Dollars, which provides a historic opportunity for enterprises across the world to enter the huge Chinese market.