A judge evaluates coffee at Hongqiao 365. [Photo/Hongqiao 365]
The China International Import Expo (CIIE) has wrapped up its eighth edition, but its impact is far-reaching and ongoing. Among the many success stories is that of Mr Wang, a coffee trader whose journey reflects the transformative power of Hongqiao, where the annual CIIE is held.
Just four years ago, Wang was a small exhibitor at the CIIE with a modest 9-square-meter booth. Instead of leaving after the expo, he established a permanent display at Hongqiao International Coffee Harbor (HICH) with support from Hongqiao 365, a platform designed to extend the CIIE's influence.
This decision, supported by access to a global network and premium coffee sources, has expanded his business to an annual trade volume of over 10 million yuan ($1.41 million).
Wang's success demonstrates how Hongqiao extends the influence of the CIIE beyond its six-day event. The HICH, a key part of this strategy, hosts over 200 coffee exhibitors from 60 countries, including 47 Belt and Road countries. This coffee hub helps distribute coffee beans across China, supporting a trade volume of 3 billion yuan. Today, half of all coffee consumed in Shanghai is brewed with beans from the HICH.
In Hongqiao, a simple invitation to coffee often culminates in sealing international trade deals, reflecting its role as a global commerce facilitator.
As it drives development and openness across the Yangtze River Delta and beyond, Hongqiao has become a launching pad for YRD companies aiming to expand globally and has witnessed an increasing number of success stories of going global.
The spatial development framework of the Hongqiao International Open Hub in the YRD, with the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District at its core, promotes an interconnected network of innovation and collaboration, aligning with high international trade standards and enabling cross-border data flow and commerce.
With a comprehensive transportation hub, "Shanghai's Hongqiao" is transitioning into the "World's Hongqiao", serving as a key node in China's dual circulation strategy, which focuses on the domestic market while enabling both domestic and international markets to strengthen each other.
