Chongqing- A total of 45 food and beverage companies from Singapore and 70 counterparts in southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality signed agreements to officially launch the cross-border trade of agricultural products on Monday. With the theme of the Global Expansion Program, the Signing Ceremony and Webinar of China-Singapore (Chongqing) F&B Suppliers was held in Chongqing on November 22.
The Signing Ceremony and Webinar of China-Singapore (Chongqing) F&B Suppliers: Global Expansion Program was held in Chongqing on November 22, 2021. (iChongqing/ Wang Yiling)
During the event, the Trustana China Southwest Operation Center was unveiled. The Program aims to help 100 Chinese food suppliers further promote cross-border trade and help more small-and-medium-sized enterprises in China and Southeast Asia develop and expand their businesses in the region through Trustana Singapore, a cross-border trade and procurement platform. It has been a joint effort of government departments, including the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Administrative Bureau (CCIB), the Enterprise Singapore, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
The unveiling ceremony of the Trustana China Southwest Operation Center takes place in Chongqing on November 22, 2021. (iChongqing/ Wang Yiling)
Mr. Leong Der Yao, Assistant Chief Executive of Sectoral Transformation, Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore, said, "Against the backdrop of the growing importance of building supply chain resilience amid disruptions brought about by the pandemic, SMEs can onboard Trustana to transact across borders by leveraging solutions such as trade financing, cross-border e-payment, and logistics fulfillment, all integrated into the Trustana platform. Through this B2B e-marketplace, SMEs in Singapore can assess a ready pool of buyers and suppliers in China and across ASEAN. "
Zhan Renming, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative is a strategic cooperation project between China and Singapore. It is a major opportunity for the development of Chongqing and a major strategic opportunity for the opening-up of the city's agriculture sector.
Rebecca Xing, CEO of Trustana Singapore, said that the Program is designed to provide proper tools for SMEs in Singapore and China and provide them with overseas development, market research, sales, and support on distribution channels. In addition, the company will also offer a series of value-added trade services, including trade regulations guidance, market, and product analysis, brand building and localization guidance, etc.
One of the best-selling products exported to Singapore by a local food company in Chongqing through Trustana. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
CCIB Director Zeng Jinghua mentioned the continuously-deepening cooperation between China and Singapore. By establishing a trade cooperation platform, the two parties have promoted the regular supply of specialty agricultural products such as oranges produced in Zhongxian County and Chrysanthemum from Yunyang Country to the Singapore and ASEAN markets.
Gianluca Luisi is the CEO of Chongqing Dezhuang International Trading Co., Ltd., a company specializing in making spicy sources, hot pot bases, and condiments from all over China and in particular from Chongqing. He said, "We're very interested in this activity because we truly believe that Singapore is a huge market when it comes to food, and in particular, when it comes to products from China, like hot pot bases and condiments."