CHINA. Interest is building in The China International Consumer Products Expo (Hainan Expo), due to be held in Haikou, the capital city of Hainan Province, from 13-18 April. The Moodie Davitt Report will be on the ground at the event, now in its fourth year, keeping you up to date with the latest happenings through our exclusive coverage.

The Hainan Expo Fashion Week is again one of the most anticipated aspects of the show. Most activities will be hosted at cdf Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex, with certain events to be held by the sea at sunset, at Haikou’s Sky Mountain and GDF Plaza in downtown Haikou.

The events are set to stimulate local business and cultural tourism vitality, infused with concepts such as ‘buy what you see’. They will leverage elements such as livestream sales and cross-border ecommerce to integrate the catwalk with consumption and provide commercial complexes and brands with personalised ‘airtime’.

The ‘Sailing in Full Bloom’-themed fashion week will boast six events, namely: Inspiring Hainan: International Fashion League; Newwave Young Designer Support Program; For Her: Women’s Impact; Redefined: Promoting Model Diversity; Tropical Island Itinerary: A Tour of Hainan; and Stars of Tomorrow Kids’ Event.

High-level panel discussions will again be a highlight of Fashion Week

Each of these events has been jointly initiated by industry leaders and representatives, media, and industry associations to lift the lid on the Hainan Free Trade Port’s new fashion wave.

Utilising fashion debuts and product launches to unleash consumption potential, the ‘6+365 days’ Fashion Week (six-day Fashion Week and year-round promotion) will offer consumers an exciting array of new experiences designed to turn views into sales and leverage online and offline events.

Ireland-China bonds strengthened

This year’s guest country of honour is the Republic of Ireland, an “old friend” of the Hainan Expo. Ireland’s participation has swelled from 13 brands at the first Expo (in 2021) to being named Country of Honour this year, sustaining in-depth participation and building a strong relationship with the platform.

Ireland is preparing to make a big (green) splash at the Hainan Expo

On 6 December 2023, a Hainan Expo promotional event was held in Ireland’s capital, Dublin. Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Commerce Shen Qiuping invited Ireland to be the guest country of honour at the fourth Hainan Expo in his address at the event.

China’s Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland He Xiandong said China serves as one of Ireland’s fastest-growing export destinations. He emphasised the increasing allure of China’s extensive market to global brands, including those from Ireland, as well as the significance of events such as the the Hainan Expo – a prominent showcase for China’s commitment to fostering international business engagement and sharing development prospects.

With China and Ireland celebrating 45 years of diplomatic ties in 2024, He Xiandong expressed hope for more Irish companies to leverage such exhibitions to penetrate the Chinese market. China’s readiness to collaborate with Ireland in enhancing bilateral trade relations was further emphasised by the Ambassador.

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