With the approaching 8th China International Consumer Goods Fair (CICGF), more and more business people over the world seek to know more about it, especially under such global economic circumstances. And journalists from countries and regions express their interests on the fair. Following are the online excerpts between the Australian “Home Electronic Online Press” and Mr. Li Xinhua, Vice Secretary General of the CICGF Organizing Committee, Vice Director of Ningbo Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau.

Question:  What's the purpose of the CICGF? What do the organisers hope to achieve?

Answer:  China International Consumer Goods Fair (CICGF) is already the largest professional consumer goods fair in China. Our purpose: to build a trade platform for suppliers and buyers in consumer goods arena from all over the world.  You can see, the fair is mainly export-oriented, but import to China is also encouraged and there is the Overseas Exhibit Section. Our future aim: to make CICGF one of the largest professional consumer goods in the world.

Question:  What are the expected highlights of this year's show?

Answer: -- more famous Chinese brands. Many famous and new brand products will show up at the fair, such as the Famous Chinese Export Brands, Famous Chinese Brands, Well-known Chinese Trademarks, etc. As the global financial downturn is having more effect on the world economy and China’s export is reducing, Chinese companies will seize the opportunity to show their best quality products at the fair and to promote trade.
By the way, electric home appliance exhibit will be the important highlighted part of the show. Ningbo is one of the three largest electric home appliance manufacturing bases (Qingdao, Ningbo and Guangdong) in China.  There are thousands of manufacturers around. Among the 4000 booths, about 1500 are for home appliances and electronics. Many of the companies are just in the vicinity of the fair venue, and it’s easy to visit.
-- More overseas exhibitors. The fair organizer encourages exhibitors from all over the world to have their booths at the fair, since it is an international trade platform. At the fair, you will see Thai Pavilion, Korean Pavilion,  Spanish Pavilion, Taiwan Pavilion, etc. More are applying. There are great potentials in the Chinese market, and it’s a good opportunity to enter thru the fair.
-- Better services. Free bus shuttle service for overseas visitors between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Ningbo, prior to and during the fair ( schedule on www.cicgf.com); a curb issued by the Municipal Government, restraining hotel room charges; on-site Muslim and Christian prayer rooms; volunteer English / Japanese / German student interpreters; assistance in other trade services, etc.

Question: Will there be any big announcements?

Answer:  No. CICGF is held every year at the same dates and location, so there will be no big announcements. For info, just go to the fair’s official website www.cicgf.com .

Question:  how will the global downturn affect the show?

Answer:  the global downturn will surely have its negative effects on the fair. But it will bring business opportunities to the fair as well. The reason is clear: while people are reducing purchases on luxurious and higher-cost goods, they are putting more attention to the daily-used consumer goods and spending more money on them, some of which are essential in daily life. CICGF 2009 faces both challenges and opportunities. As China’s number one cosumer goods fair, the opportunity is greater than challenge, in my opinion.