-Application once, friends for life- -die-hard fans- of the Canton Fair come again to seek business opportunities

At the Canton Fair, some international buyers are seen wearing old identification badges, showcasing photos that bear the marks of time. This unique practice is allowed by the Fair’s officials, who grant overseas purchasers the privilege of using their identification from previous years indefinitely for ease of access. As a result, those with older badges have become familiar faces at the Fair.

One such buyer, Sahel from Dubai, proudly displays his badge from the 109th Canton Fair—issued 13 years ago—featuring a youthful image of himself. When he first attended the Fair in 2011 at the age of just 10, he was accompanied by his father, a professional buyer.

Now at 23, Sahel has made a name for himself as a board member of a major building materials company in Dubai, and this year marks his fifth consecutive visit to the Canton Fair. As an avid supporter of the event, he has come prepared with a procurement team of over 50 members, aiming to discover new products in the hardware sector.

Businesses that procure over $5 million annually are classified as “large businesses” at the Canton Fair, and Chinese companies have shown considerable interest in buyers like Sahel. Beyond competitive pricing, Sahel emphasizes the importance of quality in Chinese products. Currently, most suppliers for his company are sourced from the Canton Fair, and as his business evolves, Sahel has new objectives for his visit.

Sahel, a board member at Dar Al Reby Building Material Trading LLC, shared, “A key reason for attending the Canton Fair is to seek out new suppliers and develop innovative products for our brand. The Fair has played a crucial role in our success, and thanks to it, our company has established its own brand and has been thriving for nearly two decades.”

According to the organizing committee for the 136th Canton Fair, there are currently 270 “large businesses” in attendance this year, marking a 19.5% increase from the previous session. Notably, among these are 108 of the top 250 global retailers and 32 companies from the Fortune 500.

As Qinqing Hu, an international VIP service officer at the Fair’s External Liaison Department, noted, “Based on our predictions, the interest in participation from ‘large businesses’ during the second and third phases remains quite strong. There’s a good chance we will exceed 300 participants this year, marking a significant milestone for the Fair.”