Column: Small producers, big markets — the CIIE story

by Maya Majueran

At a time when global trade is increasingly disturbed by tariffs, protectionism and geopolitical competition, a different story is emerging from Shanghai’s exhibition halls.

It is not about multinational giants or the strategic interests of major economies. It is about Peruvian artisans, Kenyan avocado farmers and Malagasy herders — ordinary producers seeking access to international markets and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is helping turn “inclusive globalization” from a diplomatic slogan into economic reality by creating market opportunities, generating employment, and improving livelihoods.

For many developing countries, the greatest obstacle to international trade is not a lack of products or entrepreneurial ambition, but limited access to markets, financing, logistics and commercial networks. Through targeted support, dedicated exhibition areas for least-developed countries, and direct connections with Chinese buyers, the CIIE seeks to reduce these barriers.

The objective is not charity, but meaningful participation in global trade.

The CIIE’s significance also lies in its continuity. Through its “6 days + 365 days” model, the expo connects temporary exhibitions with year-round trading platforms. Bonded warehousing, cross-border e-commerce, and buyer matchmaking help businesses turn initial orders into sustained commercial relationships.

In July 2025, Burundi shipped 38.4 tonnes of Arabica coffee directly to China for the first time, followed by contracts exceeding 900 tonnes worth over 5 million U.S. dollars.

At the seventh CIIE in 2024, 13 of 16 participating Nigerian companies reportedly secured agreements, including a cocoa contract worth over 1.2 million dollars.

The eighth CIIE last year recorded 83.49 billion dollars in one-year intended deals, up 4.4 percent from the previous edition and hitting a new high.

Smaller economies face structural disadvantages in international trade. Regulatory compliance, logistics, marketing, and distribution impose disproportionately high costs on low-volume exporters. By connecting buyers and sellers and facilitating market entry, the CIIE helps reduce these barriers.

The CIIE offers one practical model for smaller economies to access international markets. For artisans in Peru, farmers in Kenya, and herding communities in Madagascar, the benefits can extend beyond export contracts to employment, household incomes and local development.

Inclusive globalization should be measured not simply by how much trade expands, but by how widely its opportunities are shared.

It is an approach worth drawing on.

Editor’s note: Maya Majueran serves as the director of the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, an independent and pioneering organization with strong expertise in Belt and Road Initiative advice and support.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.■