Fiji eager to raise awareness of its exports through CIIE

Fiji will be knocking on the door of the Chinese market with its major exports such as bottled water, cosmetics and fishery products, said the Fiji consul general in Shanghai, ahead of the 4th edition of the China International Import Expo, which will open on Nov 5.

"We will use the CIIE to introduce more premium products. The Chinese market is increasingly important to small countries like Fiji which are dependent on external trade," said Yok Yee Chan, Consul General of the Republic of Fiji in Shanghai.

This year will mark Fiji's fourth appearance at the annual expo. Back in 2018 and 2019, the country exhibited its well-known brand Fiji Water, fruit juice and hand-made soaps, among a host of other products.

This year, two new bottled water brands will be launched, and a new range of cosmetics, healthy drinks, tea, and fishery products like tuna will be introduced in the future, said Chan.

"Fiji Water has been making a name for itself in China. However, our high-quality, green, healthy and organic-based cosmetics are not very well known," she said. "There is untapped potential in Fiji's cultural, fishery, and tourism products in China."

Fiji and China have a strong bilateral relationship, with this year marking the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation between the two countries.

"Fiji is preparing for Chinese visitors. The tourism industry is training hotel workers to be China-ready. Some are trained to speak Chinese," Chan said, adding that Fiji will reopen its borders to fully vaccinated international tourists starting in December.

An online country pavilion will also be set up at this year's CIIE for people to visit and explore Fiji's culture and industry.

Chan hopes that more people will learn about the country as international trade communities talk, shop and network at the expo.

"That is what's important about the expo - it gives people a platform to engage with each other," she said. "Business is not just about making a deal on the spot. It is also about creating new relationships."

Huang Xinyi and Zhong Hanchu contributed to this story.