The China trading hub explained

The Europe China Trading Hub will provide demonstration space for Chinese manufacturers and traders to display their products to European and international buyers, with a view to generating bulk orders, which will be delivered from the producers in China. By creating a European base, it will remove the need for expensive and time-consuming travel to China, while making available all the benefits of Chinese production to the global market. Ireland is critical to the success of the plan, given its proximity to continental Europe and the eastern seaboard of America/Canada, its particular export focus. The plan for the hub is for 3,000 demonstration halls situated in nine trading centres in the complex. The hub also has the capacity to host dedicated themed or regional presentations, as well as cultural space for showcasing Chinese heritage and culture. There will also be provision in the development for demonstration of Irish tourism, learning, manufactured goods, technology and agricultural produce to international buyers. This project will become the largest European source of Chinese branded goods in Europe. Tens of thousands of export-oriented enterprises and products from China will be displayed and traded here. All goods at the hub in Athlone will be despatched from China or other centralised depots to customers. It is envisaged that, in the main, buyers will be placing bulk orders on behalf of large dealers. The goods traded through the hub will range from electric cars, in which China is a world leader, to fabrics and machinery. It is envisaged that there will be a particular focus on the high-quality end of the market.