Executives praise expo as significant platform

Deloitte propelling enterprises' global growth

Leveraging the China International Import Expo, Deloitte hopes to play a more vital role in helping Chinese companies go global and foreign companies grow in China, said a senior executive from the professional service provider.

Patrick Tsang, CEO of Deloitte China, said Deloitte has attended the expo for six consecutive years and he is very impressed by its scale and profound effect every year.

The sixth CIIE running from Nov 5-10 in Shanghai attracted more than 3,400 exhibitors worldwide and saw record-high tentative deals worth $78.41 billion.

The CIIE serves as a showcase for China's efforts and achievements in opening-up and international cooperation, while it has become a significant platform for foreign investors to get insight into the Chinese market and seek opportunities, Tsang said.

"We have seen the successful implementation of many policy measures unveiled during the previous five sessions of the CIIE, such as those for free pilot zones and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region," he said, adding that these fully demonstrated China's unwavering determination and confidence in building an open economy.

This year at the CIIE, Deloitte's booth focused on technology, green development and sustainability, showcasing its long-term commitment and professional service capabilities to drive innovation, low-carbon and high-quality development in the new era.

At the center of the booth, the company presented its 10-year partnership with the International Olympic Committee and how it facilitates the digital development of the Olympic Games.

Other exhibits included an array of solutions for digital transformation, sustainable development and climate change, involving industries such as consumption, energy, manufacturing and financial services.

According to Tsang, the company has planned to invest HK$6 billion ($768.55 million) in China in the next four years to build Deloitte University in Beijing's Huairou district, and develop business capabilities such as generative artificial intelligence.

Over the past few years, the Chinese economy has shown strong resilience amid challenges and uncertainties facing the globe, Tsang said.

In fact, China has a huge domestic market with remarkable advantages in the digital economy, technological innovation and policy implementation; more importantly, the country is committed to promoting high-level opening-up, he added.

Tsang emphasized the Belt and Road Initiative, which marked its 10th anniversary in October.

"During the decade, the BRI has made positive contributions to advancing the healthy development of economic globalization, solving global development issues and improving the global governance system," Tsang said.

The company, he said, will step up its investment in digital and AI technology services to better serve both multinational and local enterprises and support the "Digital China" plan.