Chongqing- The Chongqing Commodity (Colombia) Exhibition Center has achieved sales of 3.15 million U.S. dollars as of this March, indirectly driving trade results of about 45 million U.S. dollars, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce on May 7.

With an exhibition area of 1,500 square meters located in the Premium Plaza Commercial Center in Medellin, Colombia, the center was established last September and serves retail customers, professional buyers, and dealers in Latin American countries, allowing them to negotiate with Chongqing enterprises through offline displays and online matchmaking system.

So far, the center has facilitated 48 online professional buyer matchmaking meetings and reached an intended transaction value of about 6.7 million U.S. dollars.

Meanwhile, the center serves as a key to helping Chongqing enterprises overcome the epidemic's impact and connect with foreign clients, strengthen overseas cooperation and brand promotion, and enhance the international competitiveness and influence of products made in Chongqing.

Data shows that last year, the overall import and export volume of bilateral trade between Chongqing and Colombia, Peru, Panama, Mexico, and other countries was 640.82 million U.S. dollars, 716.00 million U.S. dollars, 221.91 million U.S. dollars, and 1988.31 million U.S. dollars respectively, with a year-on-year increase of 68.47%, 97.46%, 5.32%, and 30.38% respectively.

Helping companies expand overseas

As Chongqing's first commodity exhibition venue for Latin America, Chongqing Commodity (Colombia) Exhibition Center allows enterprises to participate in international trade digital professional exhibitions online and supports commodity exhibitions in destinated countries to help enterprises expand overseas markets.

Providing enterprises with supporting services for foreign trade, including customs clearance, receiving, delivery, transportation, insurance, and warehousing, many Chongqing enterprises have achieved fruitful results by setting up shop in the Chongqing Commodity (Colombia) Exhibition Center over the past six months.

For instance, Chongqing Changan Automobile International Sales Service Co., Ltd. promoted its brand image through the center, which has boosted the sales volume of commercial vehicles to about 2.1 million U.S. dollars as of this March.

Additionally, Chongqing SOKON Motor (Group) IMP.& EXP. Co., Ltd. completed sales of about four million U.S. dollars during its entry. Chongqing Yuye Kitchenware Co., Ltd. reached a signing agreement with more than 20 merchants in Colombia through the center, and the order volume is expected to reach 10,000 pieces.

Trade exchanges with South America

The dividends released by the Chongqing Commodity (Colombia) Exhibition Center benefit local enterprises in Chongqing and successfully build a bridge of cooperation with Colombia for other domestic enterprises.

For example, Shaanxi Saifeinuo Trade Co., Ltd. has signed preliminary purchase agreements with five intended purchasers through exhibition halls, meeting Colombia's demanded fields, including petroleum equipment, mask materials, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for epidemic prevention materials.

Anhui Anxier Trading Co., Ltd. has solved the problem of export sales channels through the center, successfully exported outdoor furniture and smart small household appliances, and reached a preliminary intentional transaction value of 300,000 U.S. dollars with Colombian merchants.

Next, Chongqing will accelerate the construction of the Center for International Exchanges in Central and Western China, promote the layout of the global market, improve the international marketing service system, expand emerging markets such as countries along the Belt and Road, to enhance economic and trade exchanges with major South American countries.

(Wang Lu, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)