Cross-border payments, AI, and marketplaces: how to do business with China in 2025

These and other questions will be discussed by participants, experts, and visitors at the International / China Commodity Fair 2024, an exhibition focused on consumer goods.

On November 12, the International / China Commodity Fair 2024 will open at the Timiryazev Centre in Moscow, dedicated to the development of trade and economic cooperation between Russia, the CIS, Asia, and other countries.

More than 250 participants and over a dozen speaker presentations are expected at the International / China Commodity Fair 2024. The main theme running through all business program discussions will be how to develop business in partnership with foreign suppliers—particularly how to establish cooperation with Chinese suppliers and domestic marketplaces. After all, these are some of the most relevant topics today for Russian entrepreneurs exploring the e-commerce landscape.

However, before planning a business, it’s essential to first analyze your product and assess its competitiveness. That’s why, during the first section «Overview of Trends and Consumer Patterns in the Home Goods Segment,» experts will address topics such as demand forecasting in the context of current trends, strategies for increasing competitiveness and identifying business growth points based on consumer interests, as well as how to determine objective product pricing and optimize investments in promising trading areas.

In the second section, speakers will share practical advice on doing business with China. The discussion will cover topics like independently sourcing suppliers in China—key risks and opportunities involved. Entrepreneurs will present real-life cases on how to verify counterparties, what to pay attention to when handling supply documentation to avoid financial losses, and discuss legal and cross-cultural nuances of conducting business with China.

The business program will also devote significant attention to cross-border payments, with participation from banking representatives and independent financial experts. Since February 2024, issues with making payments to China from Russia have been increasing. While this has not brought trade to a halt, it has made life more difficult for businesses involved in buying consumer goods—which are now on sanctions lists.

“Unfortunately, the situation with payments hasn’t improved, even despite meetings at the highest level. And after the Moscow Exchange, NCC, and NSD were added to the SDN-list, the market now faces the prospect of switching yuan trading to over-the-counter platforms, following the example of the dollar and euro,” commented one of the participating industry experts, who wished to remain anonymous.

You’ll have the opportunity to discuss urgent issues and explore all settlement options directly at the exhibition with representatives of financial organizations. Notably, this year, Tochka Bank will have a booth. Tochka is one of Russia’s highest-rated fintech projects, with a customer loyalty index of 75%, and it supports the daily operations and growth of 600,000 entrepreneurs.

Another innovative fintech company, Novac, will present solutions for international payments and currency management. At their stand, you can learn more about the Novacpay platform, which enables effective currency risk management and provides stable transactions even amid the volatility of traditional currencies.

A dedicated strategic session will be held to discuss how to organize logistics and certification in the new economic reality, which promotion tools to choose, and even how to align your business with the eco-friendly trend of environmental protection.

By the way, the exhibition will feature a showcase from TRASKO—one of the largest international transport and logistics companies on the Russian market, specializing in road, air, rail, and sea freight services worldwide.

Other confirmed logistics exhibitors include ID Logistics, SKY CARGO, Atrans Global, Baikal Express, TigerBro Express, and more. SCS GROUP, in addition to offering transportation services, also provides supply chain management, customs clearance, supplier audits, and support for business operations with China and Southeast Asian countries.

Engaging communication and practical advice on how to successfully enter marketplaces await all participants of the discussion «Features of Promoting Chinese Goods on Marketplaces.» A number of sellers and brand owners, as well as leading marketers and Russian marketplace experts, have already confirmed their participation in this business format.

The development of e-commerce is also associated with interesting trends such as omnichannel strategies, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. Demand for service is growing, and the number of remote services is increasing. For example, Russian companies are now offering “smart” chatbots, voice recognition systems, and other innovations that have the potential to be competitive globally.

«Despite a challenging external environment, we’ve experienced growth thanks to the expansion of online commerce. Companies that had to close their in-house call centers—some due to sanctions, others because outsourcing turned out to be much more profitable—have come to us. WilStream leverages automation technologies, enabling dynamic resource management and reducing business costs for customer service and acquisition,» noted WilStream, a telemarketing leader and exhibition participant.

Visiting the exhibition and participating in the business program will be beneficial not only for representatives of large businesses but also for entrepreneurs of all levels, including self-employed individuals—especially for those interested in developing their business on marketplaces. Even individual consumers curious about efficient product sourcing for themselves may find it valuable.

Taking part in such international forums, conferences, master classes, and discussions gives market players the chance to gain insights and analytics from authoritative sources and immediately expand their network of partners.

«Given the significant expansion of trade relations with China, services for sourcing suppliers in China are now gaining momentum,» comments Pyotr Khachaturyan, Director of External Relations and Communications for the China Commodity Fair 2024. «Russian partners now have a wide range of logistics and pricing options to choose from. This service market is quite flexible, especially for companies wanting to maintain their position. Leading Russian logistics companies keep their finger on the pulse and adapt to changing geopolitical realities, offering alternative routes, competitive prices, and a variety of related services in the shortest possible time.»