On Dec 17, the charter flight CZ5069 for the "Cantonese Business Go Global (CBGG)" Initiative took off from Guangzhou and headed to Dubai, carrying aboard 270 senior managers from over 150 foreign trade enterprises in the fields of home building materials, smart household appliances, textile and clothing, to attend the 13th China (UAE) Trade Fair, which is scheduled from Dec 19 to 21.

This is the largest trade delegation in China using a charter flight to attend an overseas exhibition this year.

A group photo in the CBGG charter flight CZ5069. [Photo provided to guangdong.chinadaily.com.cn]

As one of Guangdong's top 10 projects to develop high-quality trade, the CBGG Initiative holds over 100 online and in-person exhibitions every year, as well as organizes foreign trade enterprises to participate.

Since the fourth quarter of 2022, a series of CBGG charter flights have been organized, operated by China Southern Airlines, to fly entrepreneurs abroad to attend important exhibitions. This is done in an effort to boost the economic development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In October and November, two CBGG charter flights transported 239 entrepreneurs to Malaysia and Singapore to participate in important trade events.

"Guangdong has seized the opportunity to timely organized transport for enterprises from the Greater Bay Area to go to the trade fair in Dubai, which can help expand market share, promote regional and global economic and trade exchanges," Zhang Minqing, general manager of the International Cooperation of Meorient Exhibition, stated.

Zhang added that travel convenience has been provided for exhibitors through chartered flights, which can also effectively prevent and control COVID-19. This is why the exhibitors have fully embraced such arrangements. Zhang hopes that governments can normalize commercial charter flights in the future.