Chongqing - The 2023 edition of the Western China (Chongqing) International Agricultural Products Fair (CCIAPF), themed on rural revitalization empowered by sci-tech innovation, has drawn to a successful conclusion on Monday with 110 million yuan ($15 million) in sales and 12.67 billion yuan in orders.
Four bustling days from September 22 to 25 witnessed hundreds of thousands of public and corporate visitors who prospected over 7200 products from home and abroad, making it the most influential event held so far.
At a press conference held to announce the results achieved during the 2023 CCIAPF, Chen Yong, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, summarised the main talking points centered on national and international development strategies and the popular and business reaction in terms of hard figures and technological innovations on display.
Emphasis on innovation and specialty products
Compared with the previous edition of CCIAPF, organizers strengthened the level of promotion towards major national enterprises and international markets, which expanded floor space by 8000 square meters and attracted more than 200 business exhibitors, 130 commercial buyers, and 1800 products in comparison.
Positive results achieved over the four days of CCIAPF 2023 were announced at a press conference in Chongqing on September 25, 2023 (Photograph/CCIAPF)
Among these, major national enterprises such as the grain corporation COFCO, Beidahuang Group, and China Resources Group took part in the exhibition, while over 330 professional buyers encompassing wholesalers, supermarkets, e-commerce businesses, retail chain companies, and restaurant outlets participated in trade negotiations.
The exhibition of agricultural products was focused on innovations achieved in local trademarks, new specialties, and time-honored brands, while in the field of rural tourism, newly unveiled boutique travel routes and culturally innovative products made full use of immersive audio-visual displays to captivate the public’s interest.
In line with the tenth anniversary of the BRI, the Fair increased efforts to attract the participation of member countries and those connected on the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. As a result, 29 overseas enterprises from twelve nations, including Australia, The Philippines, and Myanmar, played a direct role in the event.
Top products exhibited for sale from overseas included macadamia nuts from Australia, whole milk powder from New Zealand, shrimp crackers from Indonesia, durian from Laos, bananas from the Philippines, G7 coffee from Vietnam, crab sauce from Singapore, filled biscuits from Malaysia, jasmine rice from Thailand, and many other authentic flavors sought readily by consumers alike.
Exhibitors from across China and 12 other countries actively took part in the most influential edition of CCIAPF to date (Photo/James Alexander)
Meanwhile, ten high-quality domestic products to be officially unveiled during CCIAPF included the release of cheese from Yili Industrial Group based in Inner Mongolia, fine crispy pork from New Hope Group, a three-year green plum liquor from Chongqing Jiangji Winery, with launch ceremonies gaining a warm reception from market consumers.
Technology drives exchange and advancement
This year’s edition of CCIAPF focused on technological innovation and the empowerment of rural revitalization, highlighting the role of new-generation information technology such as the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, blockchain applications, and new equipment in the field of modern agriculture.
Among new technologies and processes to gain unanimous praise from the general public and commercial buyers included those employed by Deluxe Milk, producer of the ‘organic desert milk’ line, which adopts low-temperature reverse osmosis at temperatures below 10°C. This allows the milk to retain greater nutritional value, with a fine consistency and long aftertaste.
The Smart Agriculture Exhibition at CCIAPF provided visitors with the opportunity to witness the latest industry innovations (Photo/James Alexander)
Organizers partnered with the Chinese online retail giants JD.com and Taobao to set up the Ba Flavour Agricultural Products E-commerce Platform, allowing citizens nationwide to attend the event through mobile internet applications.
Moreover, live internet celebrity broadcasts addressed issues typically faced by rural populations, village environments, and their agriculture sectors in general. Channels set up online through Douyin and other platforms displayed high-quality products for sale that reached an audience numbering seven million people.
The Product Fair also hosted seven special events aimed at fostering deeper exchange in the agriculture industry and invited academicians, experts, and scholars to deliver reports on technological advances that will broaden development horizons, including autonomous farm vehicles, robots designed to pick citrus fruit, and machines to apply targeted pesticides.