JEDDAH, 7 October — China denied yesterday that it had been dumping fake or counterfeit goods in the Kingdom’s market.
“We aren’t aware of any fake Chinese goods (entering the local market),” Khaled Cao Jiachang, economic and commercial consul at the Consulate General of China, told a press conference here yesterday.
The diplomat was reacting to reports that 50 percent of Chinese goods sold in the Kingdom were counterfeit and 10 percent of such products came from China itself.
The press conference was convened ahead of an international trade fair, to be inaugurated by Deputy Minister of Commerce (Foreign Trade) Ahmad Hamza Omair here today.
Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE) is organizing the five-day fair, which runs in concurrence with “Fashion Arabia” and incorporates a franchise pavilion.
Jiachang said exhibits of 24 companies and manufacturers at the Chinese pavilion would show that the quality of their products has greatly improved and their prices have become more competitive. The exhibitors from 10 Chinese provinces and municipalities will showcase a wide range of products at the show.
The volume of bilateral trade crossed the $3 billion mark in 2000. It was worth $1.9 billion in the first half of 2001 with Chinese exports amounting to $582 million and Saudi exports $1.3 billion — up over 56 percent, 14.9 percent and 85.8 percent respectively.
Ozkan Aydin, commercial attache at the Turkish Consulate General, said 20 Turkish companies are attending the show.
South African participants are showcasing plastic trolleys for supermarkets, cold storage and port handling equipment, arts and crafts, water purifiers, solar power systems, and many other products, according to Muhammad Vawda, consul economic at the South African Consulate General.
South Africa was actively involved in the mining sector of Saudi Arabia and was responsible for providing technology for the first underground gold mine in the Kingdom.
Bangladesh Consul and Head of the Chancery Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan said 15 companies from his country are attending the fair.
Five Indian companies are taking part, V.K.V. Raman, consul commercial at the Consulate General of India, said. “The Kingdom is the 14th largest market for India and is the source of 7.2 percent of India’s total imports,” he said, adding that the bilateral trade in 2000-2001 was worth $4.04 billion.
Thailand, which will have the biggest country pavilion at the show, is exhibiting products from 43 of its companies. “Our new and innovative lifestyle products range from home furnishings and decorations to clothing and electronics,” Thai Consul General Makata Ma said.
ACE Managing Director Said Haidar said in all 17 countries are showcasing their products. “Some participants from the Western hemisphere pulled out of the fair because of the current global situation,” he said, adding those opting out included Germany, Spain, Mexico and Brazil.
