Seeking opportunities

Foreign exhibitors and commerce officials have expressed their great interest in investing in the Chinese market at the fair as China has massive potential for services trade development. It will also bring opportunities for other countries, thus providing new globalization momentum.

Nicolai Meyer Lehmann Lundsbjerg, general manager of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, said: "I think this year's CIFTIS will give the Danish companies a good opportunity to meet other collaborative partners in China."

Ivo Ganchev, a businessman from Bulgaria, hoped that Bulgaria and China would have more in-depth exchanges in promoting software outsourcing, financial technology, infrastructure, and other services areas.

Gianpaolo Bruno, director of the Beijing Office of the Italian Trade Agency, said he hopes to take advantage of the CIFTIS platform to help Italian enterprises enter the Chinese market. The agency also wants to promote aspects of the service industry such as catering, health, medical and safety equipment, and tourism in Italy.

Conor O'Sullivan, manager of the Irish Food Board's China office, said the CIFTIS offered great exposure for Irish products in China and a platform for seeking opportunities for collaboration.

"Local partners are often very innovative and understand the market better. So we want to provide them with good ingredients and work with them to develop products that suit the market," he said.

Mattias Debroyer, the economic and commercial consul with the Brussels Agency for Business Support, said 90 percent of the economy in Brussels is services-based, especially digital, financial, and sustainability services in terms of architecture, engineering, and ecology.

"We are here to promote cooperation. I hope that visitors can learn more about Brussels, the advantages of investing in Brussels, and our strong sectors," he said.