In a journey spanning two countries and three airports within a single day, Canadian buyer Jimi Mouradian finally boarded a flight from Beijing to Guangzhou. Having gone over 20 hours without rest, his determination to attend the 138th Canton Fair, made the journey worthwhile.
An experienced trader, Jimi travels the globe in search of suitable suppliers. In the spring of 2024, he attended Canton Fair for the first time. During that fair, a video of test-driving an electric toy car went viral due to the striking contrast between his towering 1.9-meter frame and the tiny vehicle. The video, along with the buzz about Chinese products he could import, quickly spread among his contacts.
Since then, many of Jimi’s partners, who previously relied on Indian suppliers, have turned to him to explore the Chinese market. Many of the partners are no longer satisfied with purchasing finished products; they aspire to find suppliers in China for local production.
During a session of the fair, Jimi bought an electric suitcase, which not only functions as traditional luggage but also serves as a rideable device. Its built-in battery, with a USB charging port, can charge phones, acting as a portable power bank. A buyer was so impressed that he placed an order for tens of thousands of units.
The surprises didn’t end there. While attending the fair, Jimi ordered another power bank from Chinese online shopping platform Taobao, which was delivered to his hotel within an hour. He was delighted to discover that the palm-sized power bank could charge not only phones but also cars.
In Canada, low temperatures in winter often shorten car battery life, leading to sudden drops in power or even malfunction. Yet, a trip to Canton Fair provided Jimi with a small Chinese power bank that seemed to solve this problem.
With a simple cable connection, even a car with a dead battery could start instantly. This experience highlighted the improvements that Chinese manufacturing brings to life, Jimi said.
Jimi carries a translation device made by iFlytek in his backpack, has bookmarked DJI’s Pocket 3 in his WeChat, and has taken photos of BYD’s intelligent voice navigation system. The products he brings back from Canton Fair fuel his friends’ curiosity about Chinese innovations. More and more people are eager to connect with Jimi to find Chinese suppliers.
To his friends, Jimi is already a seasoned foreign trade expert. Yet, in his 60s, he considers himself a student at Canton Fair. “Previously, much of what I knew wasn’t really professional; it was only after attending Canton Fair that I truly gained professional expertise. The fair is my ‘university’, as it is a source of inspiration” Jimi said.
In this “university”, the impressive “Made in China” innovations have left him a lasting impression.
The service robot zone, introduced at the 137th Canton Fair, prompted Jimi to exclaim, “China has already leaped into 2070!”
He noted that while Canadian robots are primarily used for heavy tasks in large-scale manufacturing like aerospace and automotive industries, Chinese robots are ubiquitous, even in the smallest production processes.
Through on-site research, Jimi comprehends the operational models of Chinese factories — thanks to their rapid production capabilities, they rarely stockpile goods, starting production only after receiving deposits, yet still meeting deadlines.
All this is thanks to Canton Fair. Here, Jimi quickly connects with Chinese and international exhibitors, laying a solid foundation for long-term, stable, and reliable business relationships.
Source: China Foreign Trade Centre
