Guangdong provincial state enterprises mark the Canton Fair’s 70th year with innovative products and visitor services

According to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Guangdong Province, published on 6 November 2026, the 140th China Import and Export Fair, widely known as the Canton Fair, ran across three phases in Guangzhou from 15 October to 4 November. The event marked seven decades since the fair was first established, and provincial state-owned enterprises from Guangdong formed a consistent presence at the exhibition.

On 14 October, Guangdong Foodstuffs, an affiliate of Guangdong Xinguang Holding Group, received a commemorative badge and certificate marking seventy years of the Canton Fair. It was the only provincial state-owned enterprise operating within the food sector to receive the honour. The firm has taken part in all 140 editions of the fair. Its Pearl River Bridge brand was launched in the same year as the inaugural Canton Fair, when the business secured its first order for preserved yellow croaker. The brand has exported goods to more than one hundred countries and regions for sixty-eight years, and it was recognised as a China Time-honoured Brand in 2024.

A focus on new, green and intelligent goods defined the provincial enterprises’ displays. Nationstar Optoelectronics and its subsidiary Xinli Electronics, controlled by Guangdong Guangsheng Holding Group, brought high-definition display and smart electronic solutions to the show. Xinli Electronics has exhibited at the Canton Fair for twenty-six consecutive years. By the close of the first phase, the two firms had welcomed almost two thousand domestic and overseas buyers and recorded more than two hundred preliminary cooperation proposals, with exhibits including AI robotic dogs and lighting products.

Foshan Lighting, another listed company under Guangsheng Holding Group, presented a range of sensor-activated panel lights designed for older users. The lights switch on when people approach and dim after they leave, and the product claimed a gold award in the 2026 Canton Fair Design and Innovation Awards.

Other subsidiaries under Xinguang Holding Group rolled out updated ranges of building materials, sanitary ware and household goods. Xingfa Aluminium launched high-performance window systems tailored for the Australian and New Zealand markets, while the group’s textile division reworked classic styles and created new AI denim lines. Guangdong Foodstuffs displayed newly designed cookware and compound seasonings. Guangdong Industrial Arts, part of Guangdong Light Industry Holding Group, showcased integrated design services covering intellectual property planning, cultural product development and custom gifts.

Support services for international visitors operated from the moment travellers arrived in Guangzhou. Guangdong Airport Group placed twenty self-service permit terminals at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to enable one-stop processing of exhibition credentials, alongside multilingual volunteer teams and upgraded ground transport links to ease passenger flows.

Pearl River Passenger Shipping, managed by Guangdong Port and Shipping Group, optimised cross-border travel arrangements at Pazhou Hong Kong–Macau Passenger Terminal and Nansha Ferry Terminal. The operator expanded transport capacity, streamlined customs clearance and strengthened its sea-air intermodal service. A baggage forwarding scheme allowed visitors to check in luggage at the exhibition venue for onward transfer via ferry.

White Swan Hotel, owned by Guangdong Tourism Holding Group, hosted a reception for global partners with traditional Chinese performances and interactive activities. It also arranged a drone display on the opening night of the fair. Guangzhou Ramada Plaza, run by Guangsheng Real Estate, set up a dedicated service desk for credential enquiries and luggage handling, and laid on a shuttle service running directly to the exhibition halls.

The provincial state enterprises combined innovative manufacturing exhibits with bespoke hospitality arrangements throughout the run of the fair.