Thirty-one Zhanjiang enterprises are exhibiting the city's strengths in industries such as home electric appliances, electronic goods, and vehicles at the 125th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou.

The biannual event is also known as the Canton Fair and is seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade. Its spring session opened on April 15 and will be held until May 5, with 650 enterprises from 38 countries and regions expected to be in attendance.

Given a platform to interact with 383 companies from 21 countries and regions along the Belt and Road, Zhanjiang exhibitors were eager to expand their overseas markets, with their latest products and services being displayed at 45 booths. They cover construction and decoration materials, general machinery and hardware, but exhibits are mostly household appliances which demonstrate the development of the pillar industry in Zhanjiang.

A worker from Zhanjiang home appliance manufacturer explains product functions to visitors at the Canton Fair 2019. [Photo by He Youfeng/Zhanjiang Daily]

To increase their exposure, a shared space in Zone C's overpass is marked off to promote Zhanjiang's status as a home appliance industry base and a center of various industrial clusters. It was a creative effort between the Zhanjiang bureau of commerce and the China Foreign Trade Centre, overseer of the Canton Fair.

Zhanjiang Sapoe Drink Systems Manufacturing is one of the exhibitors that attract a great deal of attention. Its coffee machine is able to automatically create exquisite latte art based on photos uploaded by consumers. Visitors that have experienced the service all gave a thumbs-up to the technology.

Would-be buyers of the Zhanjiang-made coffee printer cannot wait to experience the product's interesting features. [Photo by He Youfeng/Zhanjiang Daily]

According to the head of the Zhanjiang delegation, a total of 55 companies from the city will take part in this year's event, with 112 booths allocated for them. Incomplete statistics show that the first phase of the event has clinched letters of intent worth $71 million, the same as the previous session.

Zhanjiang is the only city home to both the national rice cooker industry base and national small appliance industry base. It has become the largest home appliance industrial cluster in China with the most complete industrial chain, the largest production scale and a relatively high market share. Gathered together are more than 830 enterprises with businesses spanning from product R&D to mold making, parts production, final assembly, quality inspection, logistics and trade. They produce more than 60 kinds of home appliances, such as rice cookers, electric pressure cookers and electric kettles, among which the high-tech products yield output value of more than 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion).

In 2018, Zhanjiang's home appliance enterprises above a designated size achieved a combined output value of more than 15 billion yuan, accounting for 30 percent of the country's annual sales. Products are sold in the United States, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Russia, Thailand and other parts of the world.

SGS Group, the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company has awarded to the city with the certificate of Zhanjiang Global Purchasing Base for Home Appliances.