Interview: CIIE a gateway to Chinese market for Thai businesses, says chamber leader

BANGKOK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The China International Import Expo (CIIE) offers Thai businesses a gateway to the Chinese market, helping smaller firms find customers and test business models while enabling larger companies to deepen cooperation, said Paijit Viboontanasarn, vice chairman and secretary general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in China.

In a recent interview with Xinhua in Bangkok, Paijit said he hopes more Thai companies will use the expo to enter the Chinese market and become part of its supply and industrial chains for long-term growth.

Having attended the CIIE several times, Paijit described it in three words: "unique," "opportunity," and "openness," citing its import focus, opportunities for businesses of all sizes, and participation from across the world.

The expo offers valuable opportunities for business cooperation, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), he said. Some Thai SMEs have found customers and partners after attending just one or two editions of the expo, laying the groundwork for rapid growth, he added.

"Beyond securing orders, the CIIE allows businesses to test whether their products and business models appeal to Chinese consumers," he said.

The chamber has helped Thai coffee and tea chains set up demonstration outlets at the expo, where they could showcase their brands and gauge consumer responses to prices and flavors through actual sales.

Other small Thai businesses have met Chinese partners at the expo to discuss bringing products such as jewelry into retail stores, according to Paijit.

"There are many forms of cooperation. It is not just about finding importers," he said, adding that the expo helps companies build brands, connect with online and offline sales channels, and explore different partnerships.

China's continued hosting of the CIIE and opening of its market to foreign goods and services demonstrate its commitment to multilateralism and free trade, Paijit said.

He said this openness also extends to technology. From open-source artificial intelligence to exports of electric vehicles and green energy products, China's innovation allows other countries to benefit through purchases and partnerships with Chinese companies.

Looking ahead to this year's expo, Paijit hopes more business negotiations will translate into concrete agreements and lasting partnerships. He hopes Thai companies will move beyond product sales to become more integrated into China's supply and industrial chains.

Such cooperation would make bilateral economic ties more stable, he added.