FDI is rising fast, and the traditional industry fairs show no signs of running out of steam
Foreign investment continues to pour into Dongguan. Statistics show that, in the first four months of this year, although fewer agreements were signed with foreign companies than last year, utilized FDI was US$619 million, up 40.78 per cent. This shows that the quality of investment is rising significantly.
Much of this may have to do with the hi-tech sector, as companies clustered together in the manufacture of everything imaginable inside a personal computer have reason to shift higher parts of their production chain increasingly closer to the manufacturing plants in Dongguan.
But it also shows that the traditional industries – shoes and furniture ñ are moving up the value chain, too.
Indeed, the China Shoetec fair, which is held twice a year in Spring and Fall, was apparently a big success earlier this year. Starting on April 24 at the Dongguan International Convention and Exhibition Center, the four-day event attracted 19,872 domestic and overseas visitors, a 6.26 per cent rise over the previous session. More than a third came from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Among the foreign dignitaries was Joachim Erwin, Lord Mayor of Dusseldorf.
Unfortunately, however, there is not much to look forward to on the trade show calendar over the coming summer months, until the big shoe and furniture exhibitions take place again in October.
