Singapore firms to tap Chinese market potential with strong CIIE presence

BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) will attend China's landmark imports expo for the sixth time in November, leading a business delegation of over 500 senior business representatives from 56 Singapore companies in search of fresh market opportunities.

The China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is scheduled to take place in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, will see about 40 percent of Singapore exhibitors participating for the first time, while 60 percent are repeat exhibitors, Kok Ping Soon, CEO of the SBF, told a press conference Monday.

"The CIIE remains an essential platform for Singapore businesses to grow their business in the Chinese market, particularly in high-growth areas such as digital innovation and sustainability," Kok said.

"Attending the CIIE for the first time was like eating durian for the first time. You felt curious and excited before tasting the fruit and fell for it after the first bite," said Cha Pei Pei, CEO of International FLS Corp., an education company that will be attending the CIIE for the second time.

Occupying a total exhibition area of close to 1,286 square meters this year, the Singapore Pavilion at the sixth CIIE will showcase a wide range of products and services in consumer goods, food and agricultural products, and services trade.

China has been Singapore's largest trading partner since 2013, while Singapore has remained China's largest source of foreign investment during the period.

According to the SBF's National Business Survey 2022/2023, 46 percent of Singapore companies surveyed have a presence in China. Among those companies that plan to expand overseas, 21 percent are keen to venture into China.