To deepen integration into the RCEP regional industrial and supply chains and fully unleash the efficiency of Huaihua International Land Port hub, the Huaihua Municipal Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), together with participating enterprises, joined a delegation from the Hunan CCPIT on a government-backed commercial and economic mission to Cambodia and Vietnam from August 23 to 28, aiming to help Huaihua firms go global and seize opportunities in the ASEAN market.
The tour covered key cities in Cambodia and Vietnam, including Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi. It culminated in visits to 11 overseas chambers of commerce, investment promotion agencies, and enterprises, with participation in nine briefings and one industry-matching event. The mission advanced pragmatic economic and trade exchanges between Huaihua’s hallmark industries, such as building materials, and the Cambodian and Vietnamese markets.
The trip also highlighted Huaihua International Land Port, the “5+10” modern industrial system, and the Hunan (Huaihua) RCEP Economic and Trade Expo, forging a communications bridge for Huaihua–Cambodia–Vietnam trade and investment and continually expanding cooperation space.
Visiting Phnom Penh to Seek Business Opportunities, Building a New Huaihua–Cambodia Partnership
Cambodia is an important ASEAN market, with strong demand for infrastructure and building materials, providing ample room for Huaihua’s advantageous industries to go global. In Phnom Penh, the delegation focused on frontline engagement with enterprises, chamber platforms, and professional markets to gain a clear picture of local industry conditions and to open channels for trade and economic cooperation.
The delegation then visited Xiangxin De Auto Company and Hengkai Electric (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., and other Hunan-origin outbound enterprises, conducting on-site inspections of production and operations. It detailedly examined how Hunan enterprises localize production and expand markets in Cambodia, and attentively heard the pain points, difficulties, and real demands faced by overseas Hunan businesspeople in their operations and development.
During its visit to the Hunan General Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, the delegation held symposiums and exchanges with Hunan origin enterprises operating in Cambodia. Giving full play to the bridging role of the overseas chamber of commerce, the delegation opened up channels for information sharing and paved the way for enterprises from Huaihua to invest and develop businesses in Cambodia.
The delegation paid a special visit to the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and held discussions with leading local Cambodian enterprises. Both sides had in depth exchanges on trade ties, industrial cooperation and project matching, and exchanged views on establishing a regular economic and trade docking mechanism, laying a solid foundation for long term cooperation between enterprises of the two regions.
To accurately assess the market, the delegation also conducted field research at the Cambodia China International Building Materials Market. It closely examined local sales channels for building material products, consumer preferences and market conditions, and gathered first hand market information, providing valuable reference for Huaihua based building material enterprises to explore the Cambodian market.
Ranging from local enterprises to overseas chambers of commerce, and from industrial frontlines to commercial markets, the delegation completed a series of visits and outreach activities in Phnom Penh. These efforts have not only helped gain a clear picture of the real world market demands in Cambodia, but also enabled local business circles to better understand Huaihua’s industrial strengths, building momentum for two way economic and trade exchanges in the future.
Deepening Engagement in Vietnam to Tap New Tracks; Pragmatic Fruits Born from Supply‑Demand Matching
Leaving Cambodia behind, the delegation proceeded to Vietnam, visiting Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in sequence. Focusing on industrial alignment, project negotiations and platform development, it tapped into the full cooperation potential of the Vietnamese market and advanced the integration of Huaihua’s competitive products into Vietnam’s industrial and supply chains.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the delegation paid visits to institutions and enterprises including the Vietnam Industrial Real Estate Association (VIREA), the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), and SOL E&C Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company. It held in depth discussions on key topics such as industrial park planning, support policies for foreign funded investment, supporting services for project implementation, and procurement within the building materials supply chain. The group carefully evaluated the investment climate in southern Vietnam and development trends of key industries, and proactively explored viable pathways for Huaihua produced building materials to enter local Vietnamese supply chains.
Hanoi serves as a vital hub for economic and trade exchanges in Vietnam. The delegation took part in the China (Hunan)‑Vietnam Building Materials Industry Matchmaking Forum, co‑hosted by the Commercial Industry Committee of CCPIT, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Hunan Sub‑Council, and the China Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam. Around 80 representatives from Chinese and Vietnamese chambers of commerce, industry associations and enterprises gathered at the event.
At the forum, Xupu Xinwanrun Environmental‑Friendly New Materials Co., Ltd. delivered a keynote presentation and carried out targeted supply‑demand matching. It reached cooperation intentions and signed an agreement on‑site with Vietnam Selena Holdings Co., Ltd.
Following the forum, the delegation conducted an on‑site investigation at Vietnam Hain Co., Ltd. to gain practical insights into how Chinese enterprises establish and operate manufacturing facilities in Vietnam. It also paid a visit to the Hunan Enterprises Federation in Vietnam, further consolidating the communication link between Hunan (Huaihua) and Vietnam’s business community and laying a solid foundation for delivering targeted economic and trade services in the future.
The Vietnam trip served not only as a market research mission but also as a substantive supply‑demand matching exercise. Leveraging diverse platforms including industry matchmaking forums, chamber‑of‑commerce discussions and enterprise site visits, Huaihua‑based enterprises engaged in face‑to‑face exchanges with the Vietnamese market, opening new avenues for product exports and project implementation.
Land Port Builds Strong Bridges: Sailing Maritime‑Bound on RCEP Tailwinds
During the overseas visit, the Huaihua Council for the Promotion of International Trade gave full play to the bridging role of trade‑promotion institutions. It focused on promoting the corridor advantages of the Huaihua International Land Port, showcasing the strengths of Huaihua’s “5+10” modern industrial system, and actively publicizing the RCEP Economic and Trade Expo to chambers of commerce, industry associations and various market entities in Cambodia and Vietnam. The council also sincerely invited local business enterprises to visit Huaihua for inspection and business talks, delivering dual progress in publicity‑promotion and economic‑trade matchmaking.
Pragmatic visits and matchmaking activities have yielded tangible cooperation outcomes. This overseas trip facilitated the signing of procurement‑agency agreements between Xupu Xinwanrun Environmental‑Friendly New Materials Co., Ltd. and three enterprises in Vietnam and Cambodia, generating an estimated trade volume of approximately USD 5 million (equivalent to RMB 33 million), marking a substantive breakthrough in local enterprises’ “going‑global” drive.
Riding the surging momentum of ASEAN development, the International Land Port of Huaihua marches toward maritime‑oriented opening‑up. With dividends from the RCEP continuing to unfold and the opening capacity of Huaihua International Land Port steadily elevated, valuable opportunities have been created for Huaihua‑based enterprises to explore the ASEAN market.
Going forward, the Huaihua Council for the Promotion of International Trade will continue to consolidate the cooperation outcomes achieved during this overseas visit, and deepen economic and trade ties with the Cambodian and Vietnamese markets. It will further guide more Huaihua‑based enterprises to seize development opportunities brought by RCEP, leverage the corridor strengths of the International Land Port to venture into the ASEAN market, enable more high‑quality Huaihua‑made products to reach global markets, and support local enterprises in their global expansion. These efforts will inject strong impetus into the high‑quality development of the city’s open‑oriented economy.
(Translated by Feng Tao)