Chinese wine market opens to the world

Print Article E-Mail Article

Hong Kong duty-free retailer King Power Group is part of a powerful alliance set up to organise China's first-ever wine and spirit trade fair.

The China Zhuhai International Wine & Spirit Trade Fair will be held in the special economic zone of Zhuhai from December 5-9. The initiative was announced at a press conference in Beijing on April 18. DFNI was the sole foreign media present.

King Power is joined by an array of national and regional bodies including the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Commercial Sub-Council; the China Wine & Spirit Commerce Association; the China Sugar & Alcohol Group Corp; the municipal government of Zhuhai city; and the Zhuhai Foreign Trade & Economic Committee.

The fair assumes particular importance because of China's imminent accession to the World Trade Organisation. The current high level of duties on imported wine and spirits will be sharply reduced, opening up huge opportunities for international drinks companies. Wine has particular potential because of China's 5,000-year history of wine production and strong national industry.

Exhibitors will gain access to distributors and retailers of liquor and wine from all over China, plus a powerful line-up of government officials. Chinese producers will also be offering their wares to the world. There will also be a specialized area for the display of production and packaging equipment.

The deal is a further boost for King Power whose role is to bring international suppliers to the exhibition. The Hong Kong company has just signed a vital joint venture with China Duty Free Group which will create one of the world's biggest duty-free forces, China Power Duty Free Group.

Many duty-free retailers are likely to attend the event. Wine is becoming a major force in Asian duty-free and is assuming unprecedented shelf space in most liquor outlets.

For information and registration details log on to www.sino333.com or contact King Power Group through judy@kingpower.com.hk