From the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, the Canton Fair held twice a year in spring and autumn was the highlight of China's foreign export trade.
In the era when GATT was gradually marginalized and China had not yet joined the WTO, the search for business opportunities in international trade was very inefficient, and there was no later Internet and e-commerce to help foreigners retrieve business opportunity information.
Therefore, apart from participating in the Canton Fair, the vast majority of Chinese people rarely know which domestic industrial products are cost competitive with the outside world.
Unless you are operating a high-tech, unique business that is easy to sell, you can consider going to foreign countries to participate in technology expos, such as the industrial exhibitions in Frankfurt, to obtain external orders.
But how many such high-tech enterprises could there be in China at that time?
The vast majority of other Chinese companies that follow the line of "we can do it, foreigners can do it too, and our only advantage is that it is cheaper than foreign products, cheap and high-quality" have no backup options.
At the same time, if those foreign importers did not come to the Canton Fair to take a look, they would not know that "this stuff is sold so cheaply in China. If I had known it, I would have imported Chinese goods."
Therefore, every year, some big news about making a fortune will come out at the exhibition from time to time, stimulating the nerves of all participants.
It is not just a large enterprise in a certain province that finally successfully discovered its comparative advantage, entered the overseas market of a certain country, and became an integral part of the world's factory.
It's like an importer from a new country who got some bargains, then placed a big order all at once, and then returned home and made a lot of money.
The era of information asymmetry is full of opportunities for leaks.
Of course, this also means that there are just as many opportunities to make mistakes and lose money.
The pros and cons are always equal, just like shopping for antiques in Panjiayuan.
…
Today is March 25th, a Friday.
In front of the White Swan Hotel, a bus stopped and a crowd of people came down.
Judging from the number of people, the bus must be overloaded. Fortunately, in 1994, there were no traffic police to check whether public buses were overloaded.
"This is the White Swan Hotel. It's so grand. I can finally stay here with a legitimate name." Wu Jingwei stepped off the bus, and his eyes were naturally attracted by the tall building in front of him.
He had the urge to take out his camera and take pictures immediately. Considering the crowd was indecent, he had to endure it. After a while, everyone dispersed, and then he could secretly take pictures alone.
Wu Jingwei is the director of Donghai Shipyard in Chuanshan City, Donghai Province. This year is his first time to participate in the Canton Fair, and it is also his first time to live in Guangdong Province. Before that, he only passed by on official business.
Most of the other people in the group have been here several times, so of course they are not as rare as him.
In order not to show his timidity, Wu Jingwei decided to gather a few group members who were here for the first time like him, and go out to have a drink at night, go for a walk, and see the world.
After returning to the room, he put down his luggage and packed up. Wu Jingwei already had a goal in mind. He opened another guest room on the same floor based on the numbers he had memorized when the officer leading the team assigned room numbers just now.
The person who opened the door was a 30-year-old thin man with fine bones and an indescribable appearance.
His name is Ma Feng, and he is an ordinary staff member at the deputy section level of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Affairs. He was just seconded to the Ministry of Commerce from Donghai Province at the end of last year, so now he is sent to coordinate some new export-intended enterprises in Donghai Province to provide
They participate in the Canton Fair and provide services.
(Note: China's foreign commerce authorities were called the "Ministry of Foreign Trade" and the "Foreign Investment Commission" 2 years ago. From 2003 to 2003, they were merged into the "Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation". From 1993 to 2003, they were called the "Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation."
It was later renamed the Ministry of Commerce. So it is correct to refer to it as the "Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation" at the time in the book.)
The reason Wu Jingwei first thought of asking Ma Feng out was, of course, because he and Ma Feng were both coming to the Canton Fair for the first time. This time, the delegation was sent by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Affairs and the Provincial Department of Foreign Trade to lead the delegation.
There are seven people in total.
But the others are all veterans and have come to Guangdong many times for business. If Wu Jingwei’s invitation was too light, they wouldn’t be interested at all, and you wouldn’t be able to invite him.
But Ma Feng is different. At the time of the autumn trade fair last year, he was still an ordinary university teacher teaching at a college called "Angzhou Electronic Engineering College" in the capital of Donghai Province. He taught two courses in English and international trade.
Because of his good teaching performance, he was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Affairs by the provincial foreign trade department for training.
In other words, he is the most junior among the civil servants who lead tours, but his English is very good. If Wu Jingwei takes him to those foreign-related entertainment venues, he will have a good time, and he can help chat with foreign businessmen when he meets them.
Everyone has been in the workplace for many years and knows what kind of partner is the most cost-effective.
Wu Jingwei bluntly invited him: "Chief Ma, do you know any foreign-related bars or cafes where we can sit and have fun in the evening? I'll invite you."
Ma Feng is not the section chief. He is only treated at the deputy section level. There are usually no sections below the department level in ministries and commissions.
But in official circles, you must address each other as high as possible to show respect.
"Director Wu is too polite. He will not receive any reward for no merit..." Ma Feng politely declined.
"What kind of salary is this? Why bother to lead me to expand my knowledge?"
After Wu Jingwei's repeated persuasion, Ma Feng could only go with the flow.
So the two of them went out to find a restaurant with many foreigners, drank coffee and had Western food first.
On the coffee table, the two of them chatted with each other about the reasons why they came to the Canton Fair.
Ma Feng asked curiously: "Director Wu, with all due respect, this is the first time I have heard that a shipyard has come to participate in the Canton Fair. Things like ships are large-scale engineering projects. How can I rely on this kind of exhibition?"
It can be sold."
Wu Jingwei took an unaccustomed sip of coffee, endured the pain, and sighed in complaint: "Our factory mainly builds medium-sized ships, ranging from a few hundred tons to several thousand tons. Originally, it mainly faced fishing customers and only had one large shipyard.
It can build ocean passenger/cargo ships of 10,000 tons, but the orders are often not satisfied.
If you are not engaged in fishery, you may not know that the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture is discussing a document this year. Although it has not been officially issued, everyone in the circle knows the contents of the discussion document. It is said that starting from May 1, 1995, every spring and summer thereafter
There must be a fishing ban period of two to three months. Starting next year, the total registered power of motorized fishing boats in four provinces and one city along the East China Sea will be limited to prevent overfishing from harming sustainable development.
As soon as the news of this document becomes public, how many fishing boats can be sold in our Donghai Province? There are many people who would rather break the contract and lose part of the deposit for the orders that have been placed. I am also a dead horse, and I will take a look at the Canton Fair.
Even if foreign businessmen do not buy, it would be good if they can grab business from local shipyards in the South China Sea - the national document has been rejected, and no fishing season and total quantity control policies will be introduced in the South China Sea in the next three years.
In addition, even if the whole ship cannot be sold, it would be good to sell some inventory of marine equipment, such as various professional trawls, winches, marine cold storage, and fish cabin pressurized ventilation equipment. There should be foreign investors at the Canton Fair for these equipments.
Would be interested."
"It turns out there are so many ways to do it. I'm a newcomer. Listening to Director Wu's words really gained me a lot of knowledge." After listening to this, Ma Feng appropriately expressed his compliments and sympathy.
Wu Jingwei snorted: "Chief Ma, I'm being polite now. I heard that you are a top student and a university teacher."
Ma Feng: "Don't mention me, I know my own situation. To tell you the truth, if I had gone back half a year, I would have been a guy who couldn't survive. At that time, I was teaching English at the Institute of Electronic Engineering and also opened a translation agency of my own.
, I want to take on some private work. I also want to see if I have the ability to do business.
As a result, okay, the translation agency has been losing money, and I have to go to Yiwu to buy nylon stockings and sell them back to Ark Market to earn some price difference to subsidize the translation agency's losses. I finally see clearly that I am not a business person in this life.
, it would be great if I could provide services to you who are good at doing business.
This time, the department is looking for a clerk with Donghai citizenship to serve with the Donghai exhibitor group. It is also because I have experienced it and am familiar with the market, so give me a chance to hang out."
The two of them each talked about their own difficulties and couldn't help sighing.
"Don't say that we don't have enough of these anymore. We've almost eaten, so let's go find some foreign businessmen to strike up a conversation with." Ma Feng wiped his mouth and decided to cheer up.
Wu Jingwei was about to answer when he suddenly heard his cell phone ringing.
Ma Feng immediately showed an envious expression.
That's a big brother worth 20,000 yuan! After all, he is the director of a large state-owned enterprise. He is so respectable that even a big brother can deserve it.
"I will work hard for two more years...three years in my life! I will also be able to afford my own big brother!" Ma Feng secretly determined in his heart.
Wu Jingwei answered the phone and said a few words, then hung up.
He wiped his mouth and said to Ma Feng: "I have a roundabout friend from Guangdong Province who greeted me a few days ago. He knew I was arriving today and asked me to go back to get together. Maybe there is a foreign trader who can do it.
They're in the White Swan."
Ma Feng asked curiously: "Have foreign businessmen come to our door? Factory Manager Wu, you can do it. Your shipyard in Chuanshan has such a bad reputation that it has spread to foreign countries."
Wu Jingwei smiled proudly and covertly: "He is a guest from a small country in Nanyang, from the Lanfang Islands. To be honest, there are not as many people as our county, so we don't need to take him too seriously."
Ma Feng: "Director Wu, you go back and do your business first, I won't delay you."
Wu Jingwei grabbed him and said, "Hey, don't worry, I don't know if the other party speaks English or not. Brother Ma, you come with me for a meeting. If the other party says it's okay, then you can drink tea and eat next to me. Anyway, you'll be fine at night."
Son.
If the other party speaks English, then they will have to rely more on you for help, and you will be thanked later. Although it is said that the Lanfang Islands are mainly Chinese, after all, it was a semi-colonial protectorate more than ten years ago. What if someone comes?
I don’t know how to deal with fake foreign devils.”
Ma Feng: "Then let's go back together. I will also gain knowledge along the way."
Wu Jingwei and Ma Feng took a taxi, quickly returned to the White Swan Hotel, found Xu Feng's box number, and went in to chat.