Shandong-Italy Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference and Business Negotiation Meeting Successfully Held

From September 13 to 20, 2015, a Shandong economic and trade delegation from the Provincial Department of Commerce participated in the Shandong Week activities at the Milan Expo China Pavilion. Themed "Long Silk Road, Home of Agricultural Saints," the event showcased Shandong's long and splendid agricultural civilization and its significant contributions to global agricultural development. The delegation conducted a series of activities using the Expo as a platform.

On the afternoon of September 16, a "Shandong-Italy Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Meeting and Business Negotiation Meeting" was held at the Expo Conference Center. Deputy Director-General Lü Wei of the Provincial Department of Commerce gave a special presentation, detailing Shandong's agricultural product production and international trade overview, as well as the province's efforts in building a model province for export agricultural product quality and safety. More than 10 companies, including Shulang and Liano, signed agreements with foreign partners. Nearly 150 Shandong agricultural, machinery, daily necessities, and electronic information companies engaged in trade matching with approximately 300 Italian companies. The Milan Expo Organizing Committee hailed this meeting as "the largest economic and trade event since the opening of the Milan Expo."

During their stay in Italy, the provincial economic and trade delegation held a series of activities focused on promoting bilateral trade and improving agricultural product quality and safety. In Italy, a Shandong-Italy Daily Consumer Goods Procurement Matching Meeting was held, connecting key Shandong import enterprises, cross-border e-commerce enterprises, large chain supermarkets, and Yantai Sanzhan Market with over 20 Italian companies and associations, resulting in multiple food and daily necessities procurement agreements. A Shandong-Italy Agricultural Product Trade Matching Meeting was also held, connecting over 10 agricultural product companies with Italian chain supermarkets such as the VEGE Group. Visits were made to the Italian food company Riso Gallo and the Parmigiano Reggiano Agricultural Technology Park to exchange information on agricultural brand building and technology park operation mechanisms. A preliminary agreement was reached between the Juxian County Government and the Parmigiano Reggiano Technology Park on the construction of a Juxian agricultural product inspection and testing center. Meetings were held with the Italian-Chinese Economic, Industrial and Trade Cooperation Association and KPMG to learn about the current state of the Italian economy and discuss expanding agricultural product trade, acquiring Italian brands, and promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The Italian-Chinese Economic, Industrial and Trade Cooperation Association will organize a return visit to Shandong by Italian small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural products, textile, and daily necessities sectors in November.

Shandong Zhenghe International Exhibition Co., Ltd. provided comprehensive services and execution for this event.