Ms Cheong says her company promotes mainly Borba wine, from southern Portugal, and fruit juices, mainly the Sumol brand. “ e matching sessions have positive e ects,” she says. “ rough these events we got to know some wine shops and e-commerce customers. Some e-commerce customers are already selling our products in their franchise stores. Some wine shops have also started to purchasefromusandsellourwineproducts.”

The Portuguese-speaking Countries Product Promotion and Business Matching Sessions arranged by IPIM in 2017 were held in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Jiangmen, Shenzhen, Zhongshan and Zhuhai. IPIM liaison o ces in Mainland China put on corresponding events in Chengdu, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. Buyers and the general public in each place responded well, gaining greater awareness of food from Portuguese-speaking Countries.

IPIM says between 15 and 20 suppliers took part in each business matching session, and that between 80 and 100 buyers attended. It says in total the business matching sessions held in 2017 attracted 132 exhibitors and

about 620 buyers to the events. Companies took part in a total of 577 business matching sessions and associated negotiations held during the events.

Great goods, low prices

e Mainland Chinese market is large and complex, offering a wide range of products and thus highly competitive. Food from Portuguese-speaking Countries has advantages and selling points that allow it to compete. Mr Ng says, for example, that demand for imported sea salt is strong in the Pearl River Delta Region. Ms Cheong believes the quality of Portuguese beverages, whether so drinks or alcohol, is comparable to that of drinks from other European countries. Portuguese drinks also have a certain price advantage.

Acconci (Shanghai) Trading penetrated the Hong Kong market in 2017. Most supermarkets and other retailers now sell Sumol juice.

“ e Mainland Chinese market is rather complicated,” Ms Cheong says. “So, we all focus on one or two product lines, with the Portuguese Borba wine as the main line.” She says the wine sales network her company has in the Mainland Chinese market focuses on the consumer, selling direct to restaurants. e company also sells its merchandise in other ways, such as though e-commerce websites and group purchasing organisations.

Dine In Macau Food and Beverage Group Ltd. and Acconci (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd. are trying to increase the amount of businesses they do in Mainland China, so both intend to take part again in the Portuguese-speaking Countries Product Promotion and Business Matching Sessions.

Ms Cheong hopes Mainland Chinese supermarket chains will gain greater awareness of the merchandise her company sells, making it easier for Portuguese- speaking Countries products to penetrate the Mainland Chinese market. “We are always more familiar with the southern Chinese market, so we hope to expand into north-eastern China because we think there is potential there, and there seems to be much room for growth,” she says.

Dozens of people attended the event in Zhuhai

“In Chengdu, I met 12 business acquaintances whose sales networks focus on central China. They are, in general, very interested in our wine products.” Product and Marketing Manager of Dine In Macau Food and Beverage Group, Marek Ng Ming Kit