Russian Export Center eases entries into Chinese market

The sixth China International Import Expo, which concluded on Friday, attracted a multitude of Chinese and foreign businesses from a variety of industries to seek cooperation opportunities. The annual event provides a vital platform to showcase innovative products, technological expertise and service solutions, build valuable partnerships and enhance business participants' foothold in the Chinese market, said senior officials and executives of participating countries and multinational companies. Some of them share their thoughts on the annual event's role in their businesses' expansion and international cooperation with China Daily.

With the support of the Russian Export Center, 66 companies presented their products under the "Made in Russia" brand at the sixth China International Import Expo, which is more than double the number of last year's participants from Russia.

"China is a strategically important market for us. The REC's task is to help businesses enter the Chinese market as efficiently and quickly as possible, and we work at all levels to achieve this," said Veronika Nikishina, general director of the Russian Export Center, which was participating in the CIIE for the sixth consecutive year. Nikishina said one of the major advantages of the expo is that its organizers pay special attention to inviting Chinese enterprises to find partners, which makes it an effective tool for promoting exports into the Chinese market.

Under the Made in Russia brand, the country's exhibit at this year's CIIE occupied 1,700 square meters across six pavilions, presenting products ranging from chocolate and confections to alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, medical products and household chemicals. Visitors to the exhibit could also see high-tech solutions for industry and check out Russian software. Exporters of services, including logistics companies and tour operators, were also on hand.

Nikishina believes the CIIE is the best fit for the REC in terms of scale, versatility and status. "China supports the exhibition at the highest government level, which increases the confidence of potential buyers in the participating companies and presented products," she said. "Goods from China have become widespread in Russia in all areas, while Russian products with high added value, despite having high export potential, are still poorly recognized on the Chinese market. Participation in the exhibition for our exporters is, on the one hand, an opportunity to increase supplies, and on the other hand, to introduce consumers to new products that have not yet been presented on the Chinese market."

The REC is anticipating an increase in the demand for goods from Russia and a significant increase in sales volumes in the Chinese market this year.

"The Chinese market is very promising for Russian food products and fast-moving consumer goods," said Nikishina. "In order for our exporters to integrate and start selling faster, the REC is developing new support measures and improving existing ones — from finding partners through our representative office in China and assistance in negotiations to organizing logistics and reimbursement of costs for transportation of products."

Together with its partners, the REC also promotes Russian products in collective online stores at Chinese marketplaces, branded with its signature Made in Russia. There are currently 24 national stores in 14 marketplaces, including Taobao, WeChat, and JD.

China has been Russia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. In 2022, trade between the two countries exceeded $190 billion, an increase of 116 percent from a decade ago.