Jing'an explains how to expand in China

While China becomes an increasingly attractive market, ambitious overseas firms don’t necessarily know how to expand in the domestic market. Jing’an, where the foreign economy takes up more than 50 percent, has built a platform for foreign businesses to understand local policies and how to reach local market.

The district's commerce commission has for years held classes for high-ranking officials of multinational companies. The latest was held in the Plaza 66, the luxury retail mall on Nanjing Road W.

In a lecture on Thursday, financial program anchor Huang Wei told how more than 80 managers from American company Kohler had taken a class at Shibei High Technology Park last year, and it was this class which led to the company's decision to take part in the first China International Import Expo.

In the class in May 2018, they had asked lawmaker Zhang Zhao’an about how to develop in China, and Zhang suggested they attend the CIIE that November. They then explained to their headquarters in US about why the CIIE would be a great platform to promote the company. It worked.

Kohler returned to take part in the second CIIE earlier this year, with an exhibition area expanded from 18 to 50 square meters.

“At the expo, Kohler linked its business with China’s development, and it has brought much attention,” Huang said.

Jing’an is home to 82 regional headquarters of multinational companies and 38 multinationals who have branches in Jing’an attended the second CIIE, an 81 percent increase over the first year.