Global digital trade leaders are gearing up for the highly anticipated third Global Digital Trade Expo set to take place in Hangzhou, China from September 25 to 29. The expo, which is the country’s only national-level international exhibition focused on digital trade, has attracted over 50 industrial leaders who have confirmed their participation in this year’s event.
Organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Zhejiang Municipal People’s Government, the expo, which was first launched in 2022, has achieved significant success in its past two editions. Last year’s expo saw active participation from 68 international organizations, over 100 international purchasing groups, more than 50 global Fortune 500 companies, and over 50 top companies in the digital trade sector. Collectively, they sealed deals on 32 projects with a total value exceeding 130 billion yuan ($18 billion).
Spanning an expansive exhibition area exceeding 150,000 square meters, this year’s expo will feature one integrated pavilion along with eight specialized pavilions focused on various sectors of digital trade, including fintech, e-commerce, smart mobility, healthcare, smart cities, consumer electronics, digital entertainment, and artificial intelligence.
In addition to exhibitions, the expo will also host a range of events such as competitions, matchmaking sessions, campaigns, tours, and an award ceremony. Hangzhou’s deputy mayor, Sun Xudong, emphasized the importance of exploring emerging trends, introducing cutting-edge technologies, fostering business collaborations, and enhancing international cooperation to boost the global economy.
Notably, the expo aims to deepen international cooperation by establishing strategic partnerships with eight globally recognized exhibitions, including the Smart City Expo World Congress in Spain. Furthermore, it plans to incorporate more official releases of reports and rules alongside interactive displays to enrich the experience for participants.
The initial list of 50 confirmed exhibitors for this year’s expo was unveiled during a recent roadshow, featuring prominent names such as Alibaba, Amazon, AstraZeneca, iFlytek, Shein, Tesla, Terumo, and SenseTime. SenseTime, a regular participant in the expo, commended the event for providing a premier platform for engaging with global digital trade leaders.
Alibaba, a tech giant headquartered in Hangzhou, expressed eagerness to showcase its latest innovations at the expo. Pan Xinchun, the vice president of public affairs at Alibaba, highlighted the significance of AI in digital trade and anticipated updates on AI technology applications at the event.
As the countdown begins for the third Global Digital Trade Expo, industry leaders are gearing up for an insightful and productive gathering aimed at driving the future of digital trade on a global scale.