Ningbo took its trade promotion efforts directly to Central Europe, where the 16th China (Poland) Export Brand Joint Expo, held in Warsaw from June 23 to 25, drew thousands of buyers and opened new opportunities for Chinese manufacturers. 

The event, which brought together more than 200 Chinese companies from 20 cities, including 32 firms from Ningbo, came between editions of Ningbo's biennial China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo, set to be held again in 2027, allowing the city to maintain engagement with one of its most important overseas markets.

Poland has emerged as a key gateway to Central and Eastern Europe and is now Ningbo's largest trading partner in the region, with consumer goods, household appliances, hardware products, and industrial supplies from Ningbo regularly entering European markets through Polish logistics and distribution networks.

Exhibitors reported strong interest from buyers, with organizers saying more than 20,000 trade visitors registered for the exhibition, including attendees from Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.

For companies entering Europe, face-to-face interaction remains critical. Unlike in North America, where business relationships often begin online, European buyers prefer to examine products firsthand before engaging in commercial discussions, a dynamic that continues to make trade fairs one of the most effective routes to market.

The Warsaw event is part of Ningbo's broader global outreach strategy, following exhibitions in Australia and Poland, with plans for additional trade shows this year in Mexico, Kazakhstan, Benin, and the United Arab Emirates, helping companies connect with new customers and expand Ningbo's international business network.