Editor's note: The 134th Canton Fair is held as scheduled. Buyers across the world gather in Guangzhou for the Fair, busy with exchanging contact information, product inquiries, placing orders, and signing contracts. The Fair is bustling with businesspersons in a prosperous atmosphere. The exhibition showcases a dazzling array of products. The "China's No.1 Fair" once again witnesses thousands of international buyers and exhibitors exploring business opportunities. Journalists from Southcn.com and GDToday delved into the 134th Canton Fair venue and found international businesspersons' stories of the Fair.
As the Global Sourcing Director of Lulu Group International in the UAE, Salim MA leads his sourcing team to the Canton Fair again. "We have been coming to Canton Fair for the past 23 years", said Salim, an old friend of Canton Fair. Every year, he can find new forms of display and new products at the fair.
Salim (third from right) talks with merchants at the 134th Canton Fair. (Photo: CCTV)
Lulu Group International is the largest retailer in the Gulf region of the Middle East, and they have a wide range of sourcing needs. This time, they are mainly focused on electronic products, IT mobile devices, textiles, household appliances, building materials and furniture, etc. "We source everything from China. We have our own brand in electronics and 80 percent of the components are sourced from China", said Salim, with a detailed schedule in mind.
Located in the Middle East, the UAE is hot all year round, and there is a strong demand for air conditioning and related products, while Chinese cooling products are high-quality and affordable for ordinary people. Talking about the interaction with the Chinese market, Salim pointed out that their business with China not only supports their own development, but also improves the lives of local people. "The quality of Chinese products is good, and the prices are very amazing. There are a lot of new innovations happening in China and we are all happy about what we get from here", Salim praised.
In order to find satisfactory products, he and his colleagues walk tens of thousands of steps through the Canton Fair exhibition every day, carefully checking the details of products.
Salim has a sense of security, because the Canton Fair is a window for them to source high-standard products. They can enjoy Canton Fair's one-stop trading service and customize their favorite products.
Salim and his team are very optimistic about the development opportunities in China. They plan to further improve their business in China, such as the retail operation and the online platforms, to flexibly source products globally and to enhance product flows. They also want to bring new products to the Chinese market, such as food from Europe and India.
In his career map, in the past 23 years, the reputation of the Canton Fair has not changed, but its internality has been constantly changing and progressing, and China's manufacturing has never stopped making breakthroughs. Through the platform of the Canton Fair, they are able to find suitable products and new business opportunities.
Salim loves Guangzhou's hospitality, and now he feels at home here. "Guangzhou is fantastic, and Canton Fair is an excellent platform. I wish the Canton Fair will get better and better!" Salim sends his sincerest wishes to Canton Fair and hopes to see better products next year.
Producer: Yang Chenggang
Executive producers: Lu Zebing, Cui Zheng
Planner: Luo Wei
Reporter: Yang Zhiming
Co-authors：Jiang Xianghui, Huang Qiyun
Graphic designer: Huang Chengshuang
Editors: Wing, Steven, Will, Jerry
