The Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District maximized the benefits of the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) by turning exhibits into commodities and exhibitors into investors, further boosting the expo's influence.
During the 8th CIIE, the Hongqiao "Cross-border E-commerce + Industrial Belt" pilot zone formed a strategic partnership with the global e-commerce platform Wish to attract high-quality traders.
The Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trade Center, also known as Hongqiao 365, has expanded its international city showcase to include more than 200 brands and 1,500 products from 51 friendship cities across 37 countries.
Hongqiao 365's live streaming base hosted 32 CIIE-themed live streaming events, featuring exhibitors and brands from 15 countries.
Moreover, the low-altitude economy exhibition and trade center at Hongqiao 365 drew three CIIE exhibitors, enabling immediate spillover effects from the expo.
The Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub in Hongqiao hosted more than 100 events such as supply-demand matchmaking and thematic forums, attracting over 600 professional buyers. The hub secured $490 million in deals with companies from Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Hongqiao promoted the "Ticket Economy + Consumption Map" initiative during the expo to stimulate consumer spending. The campaign featured special deals in key shopping districts, drawing 163,700 participants. It generated total sales of 197 million yuan ($27.69 million) and attracted 9.17 million visitors.
The expo serves as a worldwide platform for unveiling new products and innovations. Companies from Hongqiao, such as Jungheinrich and Samyang Foods, utilized the event to broaden their market presence. Meanwhile, Thailand's IFBH Group set up its Chinese headquarters for the IF brand in Hongqiao, demonstrating substantial investment commitments.
Hongqiao hosted a forum on the extended impact of CIIE, presenting 15 successful cases that highlight its positive effects, including major contracts and increased sales for exhibitors. An index report from the forum revealed that Hongqiao remains a leader in leveraging the spillover benefits of CIIE, with its index reaching 82.75 — up 6.2 percent from the previous year and a 412 percent rise since 2020.
