The annual East China Fair (ECF) will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, from July 12 to 15.

Focused on the light industry and textiles, this fair offers companies an opportunity to enhance their visibility and reputation among industry professionals.

"Participation in ECF allows us to engage in face-to-face interactions with customers every year. This enables us to better understand their needs and provide improved services accordingly," said Zhu Peiwen, a representative from Shanghai Stanly Home-Deco Manufacturing Co Ltd that has attended the ECF for 10 years.

The ECF comprises four sub-exhibitions: Garments, Textiles, Home Products, and Gifts. Additionally, there will be two dedicated exhibition areas for overseas products and cross-border e-commerce.

A bridge between international and domestic markets

The Overseas Products exhibition area at the ECF serves as a bridge between international and domestic markets, and sells high-quality products from around the globe.

Zhang Taotao from Shanghai Brisafe Technology Co Ltd praised the ECF for introducing a new "screen-to-screen" format this year. This innovative feature allows for online negotiations with customers who are unable to attend the exhibition in person. Zhang views this as a valuable opportunity to expand sales channels and explore new trade prospects.

Zhang said: "Compared to the booth fees and travel expenses incurred at foreign exhibitions, the cost-effectiveness of the ECF, which is held right here at our doorstep, is undeniable. We are confident that participating in this exhibition will allow us to showcase our new products to a wider range of domestic and international customers."

A file photo of customers at the home products exhibition area of the ECF. [Photo/WeChat account: chinaecf]

Leading to a strong economic recovery after the pandemic

According to Yoshikawa Taizo, the CEO of Shanghai Excellent Co Ltd, a Japanese gift manufacturing company, it is crucial for companies to adopt a fresh mindset to tackle the challenges brought by the pandemic.

He pointed out that the ECF provides a platform that effectively addresses two key needs: face-to-face discussions between businesses and a platform that can facilitate online verification of daily business transactions.

Yoshikawa Taizo, CEO of Shanghai Excellent Co Ltd, a Japanese gift manufacturing company. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

One of the highlights of the ECF is the cross-border e-commerce exhibition area.

The cross-border e-commerce industry experienced rapid growth during the pandemic because of the surge in demand for online transactions and contactless delivery. As a result, cross-border e-commerce has emerged as a new gateway for upgrading foreign trade and promoting digital economic development.

Moreover, to provide companies with greater access to potential buyers, the Cross-border E-commerce exhibition area at the ECF has incorporated an innovative trading model. This model not only offers offline product trade, but also serves as a platform that connects domestic and foreign enterprises online. This way, businesses can benefit from the advantages of both face-to-face interactions and online communication channels.