Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
Indian companies seek alliances in China
Monday, 17 November 2003, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Tens of thousands are thronging Chinese stalls at a mega trade fair trade fair here, but the one attracting the maximum visitors is a counter providing information on how to do business in the dragon land.
Despite complaints of thefts that plagued the Chinese participation at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) last year, there is as much enthusiasm among the visitors from China - as among the Indians eager to see Chinese goodies.
Over 6,000 people contacted us last year for information on doing business in China or with Chinese firms, said Liu Shuang Ping of the China Business Guide of the commerce ministry.
"Of those who had registered with us, several hundred had followed up with inquiries. Indian companies seem to reciprocate the interest of Chinese companies keen to do business here," he told IANS.
"Our task is to help Chinese companies make contacts by introducing them to allied companies here and provide the platform for bilateral cooperation," Liu said.
"More and more Chinese companies are keen to come to India participate in fairs like this as it gives them good exposure to the market demands."
Over 7,000 exhibitors from 27 countries are participating in the fortnight long fair, rated as the biggest of its kind in South Asia.
Unlike last year China has not set up a national pavilion, but the participation is nonetheless impressive.
The 100 companies taking part include a 20-member group from Tibet, with a range of products like cloth, motorcycle, garments and herbal medicines on display.
Despite sharing border with India, the Tibetan companies have been doing business via mainland China. With the prospect of the border route opening up, the companies have come to showcase their wares and make contacts for trade representation.
"So far we have been doing business with India through mainland China. If the border route opens up, we can hope to do much more business," said Tueb Dain of the Tibet Express Trading Ltd group of companies.
"We are eagerly waiting for the border to open so that we can hope to see substantial business on both sides," said Tueb, who was happy with the response to his fabrics and yarns on display.
The Chinese companies at the fair are mostly looking for importers who would help them reach out to not only to customers within India but also neighbouring markets.
"We want to sell our products here. We are trying to gauge the market demand. We not keen on retail buyers but major importers," said Jackson Zhang, director of Zhuhai Kingyard Development Ltd, a major manufacturer and exporter of knitwear.
The company now exports around 90 percent of its knitwear to the Middle East.
From leather to fabrics, household and cooking ware, to machinery and garments, threads and electronics items, the Chinese exhibitors are seriously looking at India for expansion overseas.
"We are here to showcase our products, but have so far not found the right response," said Zhonghua Liu of Qingdao Meiguang Machinery Co Ltd, who like many others is participating in an Indian trade fair for the first time.
Zhonghua is seeking Indian representatives to market his company's semi-automatic laminator machine.
While most exhibitors are looking for trade representatives, some are also seeking joint venture partners or exploring export potential by test marketing their products.
In recent years, despite the perceived threat from China, Indian exports to the dragon land have grown much faster than the imports.
From $3 billion worth in 2001, bilateral trade shot up to $5 billion in 2002, and this year it is expected to touch $7 billion plus given that between January and August it has crossed $4.7 billion.
India and China are targeting reaching $10 billion bilateral trade by 2005.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS