More than 50,000 visitors from over 90 countries attended this year’s annual China International Hardware Show (CIHS) in late October, with attendees from emerging markets accounting for most of the growth.
The show hosted nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 20 countries at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. This year’s show featured country pavilions for Germany, Taiwan and India. Other exhibitors hailed from the US, Japan, Italy and Hong Kong.
The show is in its 17th year and aims to provide access for global hardware manufacturers to growing markets in Asia while accelerating the development of China’s hardware industry.
Tens of thousands of products were showcased at the three day show, which also included a ‘Match & Meet Programme’ where the sales objectives of exhibiting companies were pre-matched with procurement needs from registered visitors. To encourage participation, a VIP Lounge and Food & Beverage Area respectively were also established to create a relaxing environment for business meetings.
The 54th IHA Congress was held in Shanghai just a few days before CIHS 2017, focusing on new situations, trends and demands of China and the global economy. More than 500 hardware executives from countries such as the US, Japan, France, Germany, England, Italy, Sweden, and Australia were in attendance. The congress was presided over by Mr Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information
Technology of the People’s Republic of China; Mr Zhang Chonghe, Chairman of the China National Light Industry Council; Mr Jean Francois Dubost, Chairman of IHA and Mdm Shi Senglan, President of the China National Hardware Association. Updates on the various retail markets worldwide were delivered among others by Mr Bill Lee, CEO of NRHA; Mr Ray Baker, Secretary General of EDRA; and senior executives of Alibaba.
The next edition of CIHS will take place from 22-24 October 2018.
CIHS is organised by the team behind the Cologne International Hardware Fair.