Tens of thousands of buyers and exhibitors have converged on Guangzhou for the Canton Fair, with some participants predicting that the first on-site edition of the massive trade fair since Covid will result in a major boost to business.

With some 35,000 exhibitors showing off their goods in halls measuring a combined 1.5 million square metres, the show stands to be the biggest ever.

Online editions of fair were held as the country was locked down during the pandemic, but exhibitors say it’s just not the same.

One man from a mainland-based AI robotics firm said he expects client numbers to triple, as buyers from over 200 countries return to check out the latest goods.

“Because of the Covid, we have stopped for like three years, it really affects [business]”, he said. “The online [fair] has less interaction with the customers, but now we can talk to all the clients, so we can know more about the feedback from the clients.”

One Indian buyer surnamed Jain is in Guangzhou to source electrical appliances. He agrees that online events simply cannot replace the real thing.

“So we had been communicating only on video calls and through Skype — so that has not been very successful. But now since we get to actually check the products physically, we get to visit the factories, it’s very helpful for the business,” he said.

But a kitchenware exporter cautions that it will take time for business to get back to pre-pandemic levels, saying overseas demand remains weak.

“Due to the Covid-19, it was a tough time for human resources and raw materials. There were few foreign traders coming to our area for business, trade, and negotiation. It’s hard, I think it will take one or two years more to get back [to pre-pandemic levels],” he told RTHK.

The chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Jonathan Choi, said the huge event demonstrates Beijing’s determination to open up despite geopolitical challenges.

“It has been difficult for the Western countries, especially US at the moment as there are trade conflicts”, Choi said. “But we hope that the trend is globalisation. We just feel that the Chinese government would like to open the door bigger and bigger.”

He added that Hong Kong also has a role to play by strengthening its position as an offshore trading centre for China.

The Canton Fair, which opened on Saturday, runs until May 5.