Through Gaza Tunnels to China — Canton Fair Attracts Buyers with Product Quality and Variety

China has long maintained that the dispute between Palestine and Israel should
be resolved through negotiations and communication, not violence. In that
spirit, Canton Fair, China’s biggest trade event, has always welcomed both
Palestinian and Israeli businessmen.

For Palestinian businessmen, especially those in Gaza strip, a visit to Canton
Fair might be quite eventful, sometimes through the tunnels. Artiya, a Gazan
buyer, visited Canton Fair this April, was an example of those buyers crossing
tunnels to visit the Fair. He came to Canton Fair to buy construction materials
and household fittings, came out of Gaza through tunnels dug at the Egyptian
border, before finally boarding a plane to China. After ordering all goods in
Canton Fair, Artiya had the payment and shipment made through his
intermediaries in the Middle East. His trading partners on both sides of the
Gaza borders would ultimately transport the goods inside the enclave through
the tunnels, many equipped with lights and trolley lines.

Canton Fair is an important source of products for Middle Eastern buyers, who
regard quality and variety of products as the paramount reason to attend
China’s most prestigious trade fair. Another Palestinian businessman, who spoke
on the condition of anonymity, stated that he had come to Canton Fair with
three other businessmen working in different industries. Whilst they stayed
together to save on costs, they each visited different exhibition areas and
came away very satisfied with the quality and prices. He said that the Chinese
Consul regularly visited Hebron in the Palestine administered area allowing
them to obtain visas smoothly.  Despite the many obstacles to trade in
Palestine and Gaza, these buyers were still upbeat about attending the next
session of the Canton Fair.

Mr Mahendra Bhatia, owner of Evergrow International from the Kingdom of
Bahrain, has been attending Canton Fair for the past 15 years said, “Canton
Fair is very important, China is the biggest supplier of the world, if I don’t
come for a year or two, I will lose out to my competitors.”

The 116th China Import and Export Fair will kick off on 15 October 2014 and is
looking forward to meeting many old friends again and making new ones from
around the world.

For media enquiries:
Mr. Wu Xiaoying
Tel: +86-20-8913 8628
Email: xiaoying.wu@cantonfair.org