Co-organized by the Export Development Authority (EDA) of Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Economic and
Commercial Counselor’s Office of the Embassy of the China in Cairo, a Promotion Conference for the First China
International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Nasr City on January 3rd, 2018,
over 100 Egyptian companies participated in the conference. Ms. Sherine El Shorbagi, CEO of EDA, Mr. Han Bing,
Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, Dr. Alaa Ezz, CEO of FEDCOC, and Mr. Mohamed Youssef, Secretary
General of Egyptian Businessmen Association are present in the conference.
Mr. Han briefed about the bilateral economic cooperation between China and Egypt in trade, investment, and financial
sectors in recent years, and introduced the CIIE with comprehensive information and encouraged Egyptian exporters
to actively participate in this event.
In May 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that
China will hold China International Import Expo starting from 2018. The CIIE is for all the exporters from the world to
access the Chinese and world market. It is a significant move for the Chinese government to hold CIIE to give firm
support to trade liberalization and economic globalization and actively open its 1.3 billion population market to the
world.
The first CIIE will be held from November 5th to 10th, 2018 in Shanghai by the Ministry of Commerce of China and
the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. It will consist of three parts: Country Pavilion, Enterprise & Business
Exhibition, and Hongqiao International Trade Forum (see more on http://www.shanghaiexpo.org.cn/).
For the Country Pavilion, relevant countries will be invited to demonstrate their comprehensive development in
trade, industry, investment and tourism. As a comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of China, Egypt has
confirmed its acceptance of the invitation from China to participate in the Country pavilion to showcase Egypt’s
economic achievement and development in Trade, Industry, Investment and Tourism.
For Enterprise and Business Exhibition, it consists of two sections, Trade in Goods and Trade in Service, the total
area will be 180,000.
As for Hongqiao International Trade Forum, country leaders, ministers and figures in business will be invited to
attend the forum, and exchange ideas on “ Trade and open up”, “Trade and Innovation” and “Trade and Investment.
The first CIIE will be a not-to-be missed occasion for exporters around the world to explore the Chinese and world
market because of the following highlights:
Firstly, in the next 5 years, China is expecting to import products and services valuing more than 10 trillion U.S.
dollars, which provides a historic opportunity for enterprises across the world to enter the huge Chinese market.
Secondly, as the trade, commercial and financial center of China, Shanghai’s ideal location and the highest level
of trade facilitation has made it the best choice for exhibitors to enter the Chinese market.
Thirdly, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) has a total area of 1.47 million square meters
and will help to provide large exhibition area and to arrange diversified and targeted supporting activities for the
CIIE. Activities such as targeted B2B matchmaking, investment forum, new product releases and tourism
promotion seminars will be held during the Expo.
Fourthly, the CIIE will facilitate participation in terms of customs clearance, inspection and quarantine, provide
long-term one-stop transaction platform to offer online and offline services, and strengthen protection of
intellectual property rights to safeguard the rights and interests of merchants.
Fifthly, Chinese and international purchasers are widely invited to the CIIE. Thus, a strong purchase demand
and a large number of professional purchasers are guaranteed. It's estimated that 150,000 domestic and foreign
professional purchasers will visit the Expo.
To facilitate the participation of companies from developing countries, CIIE will offer 10% off for the booth rate
and will offer another 20% off for companies who register before January 31st, 2018, logistic support will also
be provided for exhibitors from developing countries.
Mr. Ahmed Amin, Head of Trade Promotion Sector of EDA stated that CIIE is a very good platform built by China for
the world to enter into the Chinese market, all the qualified Egyptian exporters will be encouraged and supported by
the Egyptian government to participate in the Expo, to increase Egyptian export to China and to balance the bilateral
trade. EDA will provide subsidies to the qualified exhibiting companies, which will greatly reduce the exhibition cost
of the Egyptian companies in the hope that more exporters will participate in the Expo.
The participating companies appreciated the great support from both government, and raised some detailed questions
concerning how to participate in the Expo. EDA expressed that more promotion conferences for CIIE will be held in
the near future to promote the event and invite more Egyptian exporters to participate in the Expo.
