SAARC CCI – China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Kunming, China

China South Asia Business Forum:
The China South Asia Business Forum is the outcome of SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SAARC CCI) first ever MoU with China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Yunnan, back in 2004, to boost regional economic cooperation between Chinese and SAARC industrial and commercial circles.
 
Mr. Macky Hashim, Former President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry from Sri Lanka realized the necessity of cooperation between two densely populated regions of the world. The necessity give rise to signing of MoU, under the flag of SAARC CCI, opened new doors of enhanced cooperation for Trade and Investment between Kunming province of China and South Asian countries.  
 
The MoU was signed in the background of ever-increasing mutual trust in politic affairs and continuous economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries. The mechanism was envisioned to provide an important platform for better communication and collaboration among the member states of SAARC and China.
 
Background:
SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry in collaboration with China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and people’s Government of Yunnan Province, signed MoU to boost regional economic cooperation between China & SAARC member states.
 
The motivation for enhanced mutual cooperation under MoU, gave birth to “China-South Asia Business Forum” secretariat in Kunming China, in 2004.
 
The first session of China South Asia Business Forum was successfully organized in December 21 and 22, 2004, in Kunming China, wherein Mr. Macky Hashim, President of SAARC CCI at that time, led a business delegation of SAARC CCI to the forum.
 
The cooperation has successfully organized various editions of the forum in Kunming, Yunnan, China till to date. Initially, the forum was a biennial event and first three sessions were held once every two years. Later on from 2008 onward, the session becomes the annual feature of SAARC CCI & CCPIT.  
 
The successful convening of these sessions in Kunming, not only reflects the priorities and devotion of Yunnan Government towards close economic cooperation with South Asia and its active participation, but also enables the industrial and commercial circles of the South Asian countries to have a full understanding of the unique geographical advantages and great potential of Yunnan Province for cooperation between Yunnan and the South Asia.
 
The Political leaders and industry elites from China and South Asian countries have been invited to deliver speeches at every session. The forum plays a pioneering role in promoting mutual understanding, economic and trade cooperation and information communication between China and South Asian countries.
 
Chair, of China South Asia Business Forum:
The Chair of China South Asia Business Forum among SAARC Member states, with Country as focus. This year (2018), the Chair of China South Asia Business Forum is with Afghanistan.  
 
Allied Activities (Exhibition & Fair):
The China South Asia Business Forum is allied with;
 
     1. “South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair (SSACEIF)”  
     2. “China-South Asia Expo (CSAE)”
 
The CSAE is held on even-numbered years and SSACEIF on odd-number years.
 
The Kunming Import and Export Fair is a permanent feature held every year along these Expo.
 
The China-South Asia Expo aims toward “Win-win Cooperation through Amity, Sincerity, Mutual Benefit and Inclusiveness” at the level of strategic cooperation, while SSACEIF has the Theme of “Creating New Opportunities for New Development”. Both these events share a common goal. That goal involves the facilitation of policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, un-impeded trade, financial integration and People-to-people bonds between China, the countries of South and Southeast Asia and beyond.
 
The China-South Asia Expo is co-hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the Yunnan provincial government, and the ministries and departments of commerce from South Asian countries. SSACEIF, on the other hand, is co-organized by the China Chamber of International Commerce, the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the ASEAN-China Center, and the Secretariat of the China-South Asia Expo and Kunming Import & Export Fair.
 
Each year the fairs are held in Kunming Dianchi Convention and Exhibition Center, Yunnan, China.
 
Outcome of the Forum:
According to trade figure, quoted by CSABF secretariat, the events registered a paid-in and contractual trade volume of 158 billion Yuan, up 1.2% over the previous session in 2016.  The Kunming's annual trade expositions have had their share of growing pains, especially in terms outreach to non-Chinese speakers. Despite those, the twin fairs along China South Asia Business Forum have grown significantly larger not only in size, but also in significance across South Asia. The forum and fairs has emerged as great Source of Business to Business and Business to customer meetings in Kunming, Yunnan, China