The upcoming Saturday will witness a highlighted presentation of Irish cuisine, style, traditions and advanced technology at one of the largest consumer product exhibitions in Asia, taking place on Hainan Island in southern China. At the fourth iteration of the China International Consumer Products Expo, Ireland is recognised as the “honoured nation” featuring over 50 brands from 29 Irish companies and organisations in a vast 500 square metre pavilion. This event is cooperatively overseen by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Tourism Ireland, Culture Ireland, and the Irish Embassy in China.
The recognition as the honoured country comes particularly significant for Ireland as it commemorates the 45-year anniversary of forming diplomatic ties with China in 2024, according to Ann Derwin, Ireland’s Ambassador to China. The ambassador went on to express the country’s aspiration to give a boost to the visibility of its consumer products in the Chinese marketplace by promoting the aspects of trade, tourism, higher education, and investment opportunities.
At this major event, smaller food and whiskey manufacturers from Ireland will be sharing the stage with renowned Irish names including Kerrygold and Jameson that have already made their mark in the Chinese market. In addition, recognised academic institutes such as the University College Dublin, University College Cork and the University of Limerick are also part of the participating brigade.
Meanwhile, Landskein, a luxury clothing brand from Ireland is one among several Irish fashion entities at the Expo. This occasion also includes an Irish fashion show besides musical and dance spectacles. In an effort to promote Ireland’s rich architectural legacy and its splendid golfing facilities, Tourism Ireland is also actively participating.
Among the technology companies in attendance, one specialises in applying artificial intelligence to streamline supply chains, and another in green energy solutions; an area where China has been progressively strengthening its dominant position. The trade between Ireland and China in 2022 reached a substantial €45 billion. Furthermore, following the remission of Covid-19 related restrictions, several Irish ministers have visited Beijing. For instance, Finance Minister Michael McGrath toured Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing just last month, conferring with prominent figures from both Chinese and Irish business and political sectors.
The IDA maintains offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. In Ireland, Chinese companies have provided jobs to around 5,000 individuals and a similar number of job opportunities have been created in China by around 100 Enterprise Ireland firms. Reflecting their American counterparts, major Chinese tech enterprises such as TikTok, Temu and Shein, have chosen Dublin as their base of operations in Europe.
Hainan, a tropical island positioned off the southern coastline of China, houses a free trade port that Beijing aspires will compete with Dubai and Singapore by the year 2035. The primary vision for Hainan entails turning it into a unique trading region under China’s administration. Import or export of goods from Hainan to areas outside China will be exempted from customs inspections and duties unless they’re transported to mainland China, setting up the trade boundary between Hainan and the mainland.
The proposal includes employing zero tariffs and minimal taxes to transform Hainan into a commerce foundation for international corporations, specifically those hailing from southeast Asia. The ambition for Hainan is to provide unrestricted trade, unhindered flows of investments and cross-border capital as well as freedom of movement for people and goods.