China Sourcing Fair 2011

China Sourcing Fair attracts new interest from African traders

Gallagher Convention Centre played host to the China Sourcing Fair at the beginning of December 2011. The event featured over 820 booths, a 29% increase from 2010 and showcased a product range from eight sectors. The exhibition took place over four Halls and was the biggest China-products exhibition ever to have been held in Africa, attracting nearly 7,000 visitors from various trade sectors.
The exhibition aimed to create direct trade opportunities between Chinese manufactures and African traders.

Many of these manufacturers have been supplying their products to global brands for years and now aim to supply directly to importers across the African continent. “Africa’s trade with China is booming,” said Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions. “The expansion of our China Sourcing Fairs in Johannesburg is representative of that growth.”China has emerged as Africa’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade growing on average 28 per cent over the past 10 years, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce.

Bill Janeri, General Manager for Global Sources Developing Markets is optimistic about future business opportunities between the two continents and has already confirmed Gallagher Convention Centre as the preferred venue for the 2012 exhibition: “During 2011 we conducted formal research amongst 850 buyers in various sectors. While many companies import products valued in excess of R400 million,it is encouraging to note a 17% growth of young entrepreneurs who have established new ventures, while 44% are busy building their businesses. Around 35% of these companies plan to source inventory from China in the next 12 months, and many will source more frequently in order to stay competitive in their respective fields of competence. In fact, of the 850 buyers interviewed, 24% will purchase more than 80% of their stock from Chinese vendors.”

Adolf Venter, Chief Executive Officer at Gallagher says “The China Sourcing Fair is testimony to new trade trends in Africa. We are proud to be a part of intercontinental trade relations by again hosting this exhibition in 2012, an initiative which will continue to add great economic value to both regions.”

Janeri says that the cycle of ‘time to market’ is becoming shorter and there is a new urgency to communicate directly with traders and traders with suppliers. He says that exhibitors made new and valuable contacts to provide South Africa traders access to high quality and affordable products.