Industrial and Commercial Bank of China selects 500 volunteers to serve the CIIE.

The China International Import Expo, as a window for building a new development pattern and promoting high-level opening-up to the world, is showcasing China's openness and changes.

Since the first CIIE, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has gathered strength from all over the world and leveraged its financial expertise with a broad vision.

With the advantage of global network resources, ICBC is deepening global business linkages and building a cross-border financial bridge for global participants, contributing to the success of the CIIE.

As a comprehensive partner of the CIIE, ICBC will continue to provide all-around high-quality services for the upcoming sixth CIIE on Sunday in Shanghai in terms of exhibition and investment promotion, supporting activities, trade facilitation and financial services, and unveiling a new chapter for high-level opening-up.

Financial bridges

Hosted by the CIIE Bureau, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) and ICBC Shanghai Branch, the first supply-demand matchmaking event of the sixth CIIE, focusing on dairy products, meat and aquatic products in the Food and Agricultural Products Exhibition Area, was held in Shanghai on March 2.

Nearly 40 dairy product, meat and aquatic product exhibitors including Nestle, Bellamy's and Tyson Foods, attended the event, engaging in supply-demand matchmaking with hundreds of food distribution, production and processing companies, e-commerce platforms and supermarkets, such as Lotus Supercenter and Hema.

The China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products also organized an International Food Trade Cooperation Salon. Representatives from food industry institutions from Denmark, Spain, Singapore and other countries, as well as ICBC and exhibitors, discussed topics such as trends in the food industry, and how small and medium-sized brands can expand the Chinese market in a cost-effective manner.

Since the beginning of this year, domestic branches of ICBC have promoted exhibition and procurement, focusing on industries such as food and agricultural products, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, technological equipment and the service trade.

Multiple supply-demand matchmaking events have been held in places such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Sichuan province and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

ICBC Shanghai Branch, Shenzhen Branch, ICBC Asia and ICBC Macao jointly organized pre-exhibition activities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

ICBC Shanghai Branch, Jiangsu Branch and Zhejiang Branch hosted supply-demand matchmaking activities in the Yangtze River Delta region. As a global bank, ICBC is boosting synergy among overseas branches, local governments and chambers of commerce.

It has held nine overseas exhibition promotion events in Africa, Argentina, France, Italy and other regions. With the help of ICBC's connections, many overseas companies have deepened their understanding of the CIIE and the potential of the Chinese market.

A representative of an Italian olive oil company said that since participating in the first CIIE, the company has exported products to China and will continue to expand cooperation and share market opportunities through the platform this year.

As of the first half of this year, ICBC had more than 16,000 domestic institutions and established 415 overseas institutions in 49 countries and regions.

Through its stake in Standard Bank Group, ICBC has indirectly covered 20 African countries and established business relationships with 1,443 foreign-funded banks across 143 countries and regions. Its service network covers six continents and important global financial centers.

Key events at CIIE

On the afternoon of Nov 5, ICBC will host the sub-forum of the Hongqiao International Economic Forum for the fourth consecutive year, under the theme of "financial liquidity serving the real economy".

More than 200 representatives from governments, enterprises and financial institutions from more than 20 countries and regions will attend, focusing on topics such as financial services for the real economy, innovation in financial product services and interconnected financial markets. The forum will include keynote speeches, panel discussions and other sessions.

Important cooperative achievements are to be announced and key cooperative projects will be reached on-site, injecting new impetus into the high-quality development of the economy through financial assistance.

On Nov 6, ICBC will host the China-Europe Entrepreneurs Forum at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) for the fifth consecutive year.

Themed "Deepening Cooperation, Winning the Future" and based on the China-Europe Business Council platform, this year's forum will gather nearly 700 guests with global influence and focus on topics such as deepening Sino-European economic and trade relations; continuously enhancing connectivity; maintaining stability in global industry and supply chains; promoting digital economic transformation and development; and innovating in green and low-carbon industries.

The forum aims to provide a platform for communication, exchange and practical cooperation between Chinese and European enterprises, adding vitality to Sino-European economic and trade cooperation.

Since the fourth CIIE, ICBC has been setting up booths in the food and agricultural product exhibition area as a financial institution representative.

It provides on-site display, negotiation and transaction services, helping domestic and foreign enterprises transition from traders to merchants in their business scenarios.

This year, ICBC has expanded its exhibition area to 1,000 square meters and invited more than 100 exhibitors from nearly 40 countries, with more than 650 exhibits.

Innovative systems

As a comprehensive partner of the CIIE, ICBC has upgraded and launched "Intelligent ICBC, Convergence at the Expo — Comprehensive Financial Services for the sixth China International Import Expo" to support the hosting of the event.

ICBC has tailored a financial product and service system for this year's expo.

Among them, "Easy Account Opening" provides account services covering 26 currencies for onshore or offshore registered public institutions worldwide, relying on the unique free trade account system.

"Easy Remittance" provides efficient, secure and convenient cross-border remittance services for customers through products such as Global Quick Remittance and ICBC Fast Remittance.

In terms of "Easy Financing", ICBC has deepened cooperation with China's customs' "single window" platform to provide online loans for small and micro enterprises engaged in import and export, based on data such as enterprise declaration forms and tax documents.

It also offers online applications for foreign currency financing and foreign exchange payments for such enterprises, as well as offshore financial services such as standby syndicated loans and overseas risk participation loans for multinational groups with China headquarters in Shanghai.

"Easy Internet Banking" offers online remittance, letter of credit settlement, online application and withdrawal of international trade financing and other services for traders.

It also offers the "Cross-border e-Payroll" service for overseas companies and their Chinese expatriate workers.

"Easy E-commerce" helps e-commerce enterprises improve export turnover efficiency and fund risk control, supporting Chinese brands' efforts to go global.

"Easy Exhibition" provides on-site exhibition support for clients and helps customers achieve cross-border matchmaking transactions online through the self-developed platform.

To provide high-quality service for the expo, ICBC selects and trains a group of outstanding employees as volunteers.

This year, ICBC has assembled more than 550 young volunteers, the largest number in nearly three years. They cover work positions such as on-site and off-site services, guest reception, etiquette, traffic guidance and multilingual translation.

On Sept 15, at the 50-day countdown event, dozens of ICBC volunteers pledged to dedicate themselves to their work with a high sense of mission and responsibility, contributing to promote high-level opening-up.

wangjinhui@chinadaily.com.cn