Enterprises from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are showcasing their strong capabilities in manufacturing and innovation at the ongoing European soccer event, as they step up efforts to strengthen their presence globally.
ALSO READ: Euro 2024 sponsorship deals drive Chinese brands deeper into Europe
Shenzhen-based electric vehicle maker BYD and smartphone maker Vivo, based in Dongguan, have become two of the 13 top-tier sponsors for the UEFA European Championship in Germany, which runs from June 14 to July 14. While BYD is presenting its latest new energy vehicle models and cutting-edge technologies to world soccer fans, Vivo is making itself known to the world by displaying its outstanding imaging technology in its smartphone models.
Many foreign clients highly value customs certification. Thanks to the Authorized Economic Operator qualification, we are able to expand our international business at a faster pace.
Huang Xinwei, customs manager of Unilumin Group Co Ltd
Unilumin Group Co Ltd, a tech company headquartered in Shenzhen, has provided nearly 1,000 square meters of LED (light-emitting diode) display screens for three stadiums at the championship.
“Participation in international sports events such as Euro 2024 helps us better connect with overseas clients and enables us to gain better knowledge of overseas market demand, fueling our globalization drive,” said Chen Feng, director of sports for the Europe region at Unilumin.
The company is intensifying efforts to expand its global footprint. Fifty-four percent of its operating revenue comes from international markets.
“Chinese enterprises in the LED display screen industry have advantages in technology and cost. And compared with its United States’ and European counterparts, they move faster in product upgrading to cater to the rapidly changing market demand,” he said.
“The provision of high-quality products at the European soccer championship will help enhance the global reputation of Chinese firms in the industry, dispelling overseas prejudice and boosting development of the industry.”
READ MORE: Foreign investment in Shenzhen's Qianhai exceeds $40b
Customs certification has also played an active role in facilitating businesses’ collaboration with world sports events. “Many foreign clients highly value customs certification. Thanks to the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) qualification, we are able to expand our international business at a faster pace,” Huang Xinwei, customs manager at the company, said, adding that overseas sales of the company grew by over 30 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year.
Initiated by the World Customs Organization, AEO qualification grants a company preferential management measures, such as priority processing, reduced frequency of supervision and optimized services, in order to facilitate customs clearance and enhance international trade efficiency.
Shenzhen Customs said it has carried out field research among local suppliers of Euro 2024 in an effort to remove classification barriers for related products to enter the German market, and offered precise guidance at pre-export supervision and declaration for customs clearance stages.
According to Shenzhen Customs, exports of panel display modules by Shenzhen firms hit 22.71 billion yuan ($3.12 billion) in the first five months, up 10.6 percent year-on-year. Of that, exports to Europe reached 1.39 billion yuan, rising 18.2 percent.
Exports of sports-related products and equipment by Shenzhen enterprises reached 5.68 billion yuan over the same period, surging 76.9 percent from the same period a year earlier.
READ MORE: Bay Area cross-sea passage to begin trial operation
The buzz from the tournament is also fueling the cross-border e-commerce business in the Bay Area. A special cross-border warehouse tailored for transporting goods to Europe has been set up in Dongguan.
Jointly established by AliExpress and Cainiao - Alibaba's cross-border online retail platform and logistics arm, respectively — the warehouse enables consumers in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK to receive their parcels within five days after placing orders online.
The number of parcels delivered to Europe from the cross-border warehouse skyrocketed by over 300 percent in May compared with the same period last year.
