Nestle Group from Switzerland was one of the first foreign companies to enter the Chinese market. It is one of the first companies to confirm its participation in the China International Import Expo, and it is also the chair of the dairy industry special committee of the CIIE Enterprise Alliance. David Fang, vice-president of Nestle China, shares his views about the Chinese market. Here is an interview with Fang:
Reporter: Could you introduce the work of the committee since it was established?
Fang: Since its establishment, the committee has been actively engaged in various activities. The committee has organized events such as media briefings for dairy product companies participating in the CIIE and the global dairy industry cooperation forum. These activities involve in-depth analysis of the global dairy industry’s development trends and sharing successful cases of dairy product companies.
Reporter: How has the committee demonstrated its role as a leading example of high-quality exhibitors?
Fang: The committee plays a bridging role in deepening industry exchanges and promoting win-win cooperation. It has always called on its member enterprises to play a leading role in helping China build a sustainable dairy industry and has helped to accelerate the construction of a new pattern of green, low-carbon and circular development.
Reporter: How do you view the role of the committee in improving the specialization level and sustainable development capabilities of the sector?
Fang: The member enterprises of the committee all have important status and strong influence in the field of global dairy products. On one hand, it effectively combines international resources, markets, brands and other advantages to supply China with high-quality dairy products, meeting the Chinese consumers’ pursuit of high-quality life. On the other hand, it strives to promote the alignment of regulations and standards in dairy product safety, imports and exports, and strengthen the research, innovation, and exchanges of industry technology and nutritional products to help promote the high-quality development of China’s dairy industry.
Reporter: As the chair of the committee, what are Nestle’s plans for the future development of the committee?
Fang: The committee will contribute to the high-quality development of the Chinese dairy industry and promote innovation in green agriculture and the low-carbon food industry.
Furthermore, members of the committee and industry enterprises can leverage the CIIE platform to integrate resources and actively engage in activities while strengthening communication with relevant government departments and industry associations. The committee will also promote the green, low-carbon, and sustainable development of the entire dairy product industry chain, expand the scale of company participation in the CIIE, and increase the number of excellent exhibits.
Reporter: Why did Nestle initially get involved with the CIIE, and what keeps you participating in it year after year?
Fang: Nestle has been dedicated to its development in the Chinese market and has made numerous investments in China. Therefore, upon learning about the first CIIE, we promptly applied to be among the first multinational food companies to confirm our participation as an exhibitor.
Reporter: Has the CIIE contributed to promoting the development of participating companies?
Fang: The CIIE provides convenience and guarantees for two-way communication and mutually beneficial development. Beneficiaries include not only Nestle but also many foreign companies in China. On this efficient and innovative platform of the CIIE, Nestle has conducted a lot of exchanges with industry partners, including jointly promoting sustainable development and discussions on regenerative agriculture. At the fifth CIIE, Nestle and Bayer signed a cooperation agreement on regenerative agriculture for rice, which was the first cooperation between the two parties in China.
Reporter: What are the distinctive features of the CIIE compared to other industry trade exhibitions?
Fang: The CIIE, as a national-level exhibition, provides exhibitors with a comprehensive platform for communication and interaction with various trade missions, government representatives, industry experts, and media outlets. Industry forums and conferences organized by the CIIE Enterprise Alliance allow exhibitors to explore industry opportunities, facilitating the introduction of more advanced products into the Chinese market. Additionally, the series of activities conducted by the Ministry of Commerce enable exhibitors to gain further insights into the resources and advantages of Chinese provinces and cities.
Reporter: How do you view the industry opportunities under the current global economic situation? Can the CIIE play a role in it?
Fang: Currently, the global economic development faces some difficulties and challenges. The CIIE’s adherence to true multilateralism and the concept of gathering more consensus on openness are particularly valuable for the development of the world economy today.
By Cao Desheng
Qi Yingpu from Jiefang Daily contributed to the story.
