The Club Export Réunion opens a route for local businesses to access the China International Investment and Trade Fair (CIFIT), which will be held from September 8 to 11 in Xiamen. A preparation workshop took place on April 30 in the presence of the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Reunion., M. Chen Xiaolei. A rare opportunity for Reunion companies to discover the Chinese market.
Will France be the host country of CIFIT 2026? ? April 30, day when the representative of the People's Republic of China in Reunion made the announcement at the Club Export Réunion, the response of the French government to this proposal was not yet known. If that were the case, this would undoubtedly be a “plus” in terms of visibility also for Reunionese entrepreneurs. In addition to its commercial dimension, CIFIT is the only Chinese state fair dedicated to investment. On an exhibition area of 120,000 m2, this year it plans to welcome 2,650 exhibiting organizations and companies and more than 80,000 visitors from 138 countries and regions. Because it offers a space for direct negotiation with decision-makers who are usually inaccessible, it is for any company looking for opportunities in this immense market a strategic shortcut. China is already the second non-European supplier to Reunion Island with an import bill included, according to the exercises, between €355 and €444 million per year. Conversely, Reunion exports represent less than €5 million : a massive imbalance ! Agricultural rum and premium spirits, Vanilla bourbon, spices, essential oils, natural cosmetics, seafood products (Reunion already exports €123 million of fish from the southern seas to China), or high-end tourism : to this panorama of Reunion specialties, M. Xiaolei added less predictable areas where his government wants to see trade develop such as health, the green economy, the senior economy, legal services, etc.
The Chinese consulate, economic entry point
Economic information : Chen Xiaolei insisted on this little-known aspect of the missions entrusted to the consulate. Reunion Island companies in search of information on the Chinese economy, information on sourcing, to make contact with Chinese companies, are therefore invited to contact the consulate. If he is not able to respond directly, he will relay the request in order to direct the requester to the appropriate contacts. Please note that this call particularly concerns SMEs that do not have internal resources for export and import.. The workshop on April 30 was also in this perspective.. It was the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China which requested the Club Export Réunion to structure a long-term economic partnership.
A delegation in preparation
Among the 110 member companies of the Club Export Réunion, 18 have already identified China or Asia as a priority market, including key players in the agri-food sector, logistics, air, BTP, digital, and commerce. Between presentation of the Chinese market and its sectoral opportunities, feedback from leaders already involved in the area and framing of the future delegation, the April 30 workshop marked the first milestone towards the CIFIT 2026 mission.
