CIIE offers platform for exhibitors to become investors

My CIIE story began in 2019, my third year in China and the first time that Mobis participated in the China International Import Expo.

As the chief representative of Mobis China Office, I had started paying attention to the professional trade event even before the inaugural edition took place in 2018. The first thought I had after learning about the expo was: "How is the CIIE different from the other trade fairs?"

Mobis, which is an auto parts supplier, had attended several motor shows before. Compared to conventional fairs, I found that the CIIE has a larger audience which includes government-led trade missions and supply chain partners, and that this could be crucial to helping Mobis establish a stronger presence in China. As such, we chose the CIIE as our only major display platform in China.

We again took part in the fourth CIIE in 2021 and showcased more than 20 of our latest technologies and products, including the concept car M.Vision X. We also put greater efforts into designing a booth that would attract more visitors.

During the expo, numerous trade missions and representatives from government departments and companies visited our booth. I was so busy receiving them that I sometimes forgot to eat my meals.

It was a big challenge to host such a huge event during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to the effective organization and security services, the fourth CIIE did a great job with pandemic prevention.

On the last night of the 2021 edition, my Chinese colleagues and I had an instant noodles party to celebrate our achievements. We were all delighted to meet new friends and partners and expand our minds through the expo. We also realized that China is determined to open up even further to the world.

Our involvement in the CIIE has brought our company tangible benefits. Governments and companies have reached out to us to discuss cooperation and I have been invited to many trade and investment meetings by governments from provinces including Hunan and Heilongjiang.

Our global headquarters now has a more comprehensive understanding of the Chinese market. It has since increased investment in China and support to my office's businesses.

We have also gotten the opportunity to work with Chinese startups and tech companies to explore future mobility technologies. Deep Glint, an artificial intelligence company that Mobis invested in, went public in March this year.

We are also focusing on the new energy vehicle sector to help China achieve its carbon goals. For example, Mobis has helped with the construction of Hyundai Motor Group's fuel-cell system plant in Guangzhou, the capital city Guangdong province.

The author is the chief representative of Mobis China Office. He has been in China for six years and is responsible for developing and implementing the company's localization strategy in China. He graduated from Seoul National University and loves Chinese culture.