SYDNEY, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Lobsters, beef and lamb, wine, coffee, milk powder and honey -- well-known Australian specialties will be on show at the upcoming ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE).
The Australian delegation will display agricultural products, food and beverages, and health products, with exhibition space reaching a record high. According to preliminary figures, the agricultural and food zone will exceed 1,700 square meters.
The Australian national pavilion, organized by Austrade with state governments and major industry associations, will cover 1,460 square meters and host more than 130 companies.
"The CIIE is the platform of choice for Australian business to engage with China and will boost Australia's trade development," said Susan Kahwati, general manager for green energy, agriculture, food and fast-moving consumer goods at Austrade.
Australian Natural Biotechnology, a CIIE veteran whose booth grew from 9 square meters at the first edition to 180 square meters this year, says the Chinese market has changed. "China's market now places greater emphasis on quality, scientific evidence, brand value and consumer experience, while demand is becoming more diversified," said chairwoman Pan Ting.
She said the value of the expo lies not only in deals signed on site but in the business cooperation that continues afterwards, and that the company is watching digital marketing, livestream e-commerce and omnichannel integration.
Oz-Town, which has exhibited for eight consecutive years and licenses the Australian Made logo in China, will run a livestream studio again. CEO Liu Xiaoyan said the logo has more than 4,500 member companies, many of which have never visited China, and livestreaming can introduce their products to Chinese consumers.
Anna Fedeles, general manager of international business at Trade and Investment Queensland, said nearly half of the national pavilion's transaction value at the previous expo came from Queensland exhibitors, attributing the result to e-commerce platforms, livestreaming and influencer strategies.
Hans Hendrischke, a professor at the University of Sydney Business School, said the CIIE matters more than traditional trade fairs because businesses must meet face to face, understand each other's industrial ecosystems and localize products.
