The 127th Canton Fair kicked off online on June 15th, enabling companies to explore global market through advanced information technology. It has attracted 588 Guangzhou enterprises with 2,307 booths, both these numbers are slightly higher than the previous session.

The exhibiting products of Guangzhou enterprises cover all 16 categories and 50 exhibition areas set up in this fair. Most of the products are electronics and information products, household appliances, motorcycles, construction and decoration materials, furniture, luggage, clothing, etc., said Gao Yuyue, deputy secretary-general of Guangzhou.

More than 56,000 product pictures and nearly 15,000 promotional videos have been posted in the online exhibition hall. New technologies also play an important role in assisting exhibitors to showcase their products. 78% of Guangzhou exhibitors have set up over 760 live streaming rooms, with more than 3,700 staff.

With a rich production line from table tennis, badminton, football, volleyball and sportswear, Double Fish Sports Goods Group Co., Ltd., a Guangzhou-based is one of the largest sports equipment manufacturers in China.

A corner of the Double Fish sports VR booth. (Photo by the company's VR exhibition page)

In order to better display the sport products in the fair, the company takes VR technology in a sports experience hall, so that customers can know more about the functions and have an accurate and realistic experience of the products, said Liu Zhou, director of sales of the company.

Liu thinks the other advantage of this fair is that customers can get access to different products according to different interests. "In the past, the fair attracted many customers, sometimes we may not be able to introduce the products for them individually . But this time we schedule 3 live shows every day, buyers can choose to watch the livestreams simultaneously," said Liu.

Guangzhou Light Holdings Limited is one typical eyewitness of the development of the Canton Fair, as they have attended the fair since its first session in 1957. As one of the earliest professional import & export companies in China, GZLI has become an experienced international trade group but still face challenges during this time.

Participants of GZLI rehearse for a livestreaming before the 127th Canton Fair, held in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 12, 2020. (Photo / Xinhua)

The company's sales staff feel uneasy about changing from face-to-face communication with customers becoming online anchors facing the camera, said Zhu Puzhen, general manger of GZLI. Therefore, they invited professionals to have live streaming training for the staff and purchased relevant equipment, software as early as possible.

"We are looking forward to making progress in the 127th Canton Fair, not only to earn orders, but also to learn more about online promotion of e-commerce," said Zhu. The company has set up 21 live rooms for over 200 live shows to sell key products such as home appliances, thermos and kitchen utensils.

Despite the impact of the pandemic, many overseas buyers feel curious about the online Canton Fair, expressing their support and unwillingness to miss business opportunities (in this fair), added Zhu.

In May, Guangzhou's bureau of commerce conducted a survey of about 300 key exporting and foreign trade enterprises, showing that foreign trade orders might see a year-on-year decrease in Q2, Q3 this year, said Wei Min, deputy director of the bureau.

Hence, the opening of this online Canton Fair is regarded as an important measure against the impact of pandemic. Wei believed that such a timely move will help enterprises to gain more orders in the international market.