Current Issue

From Made-In-China To Designed-In-China

The news just in:… China’s trade surplus for July hit US$31.5 billion, the highest in two and a half years, thanks to higher-thanexpected export growth, especially to the European Union.

While the surplus eased fears that the US and European debt crises might hurt global demand for Chinese goods, the debate continues as to whether it will affect Chinese exports in the long term. Right now, the cash registers are expected to continue ringing as officials and experts say that they believe export growth will remain robust for the third quarter, driven up by rising orders from overseas ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

For the record, China’s exports surged 20.4 percent from a year earlier to US$175.13 billion in July, a record high, while imports rose 22.9 percent year-on-year to US$143.64 billion, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The record-breaking set of trade figures (between China and the EU) were made more compelling as with it, China overtook the United States as the EU’s largest trade partner. The Ministry of Commerce, citing the latest statistics from Eurostat, said the overall value of China-EU trade in July exceeded that of the EU and the United States by Euros 800 million, accounting for 13.4 percent of the region’s total imports and exports.

However, if you were on the ground, you won’t realise any change – it’s just business as usual, surging ahead in same nonchalant manner it always has. Standing at the recently concluded Furniture China 2011 in Shanghai, China proved the point. Using three exhibition centres, it offered a sole-ripping 600,000 sq m to visitors and exhibitors alike.

Trade exhibitions like Furniture China, CIFF Guangzhou and 3F Dongguan in the south have been central to the furniture business in China, providing a platform of exchange not only of business, but also networks, ideas, and information. Such predominant shows have over the years gained in size and stature, offering itself as a useful barometer of furniture business in China.

For the locals, these events play their role in bringing made-in-China furniture to an awaiting international market. But looking at the foreign exhibits, it’s also easy to note that original design and well-recognised brands are the twin hallmarks used by Europeans and Americans to conquer the furniture market. In this respect, China’s furniture enterprises have been quick to draw lessons from its overseas counterparts. And, the middle Kingdom’s furniture industry has made it clear that is intent in catching up to those of its export brethren with a slew of measures in the design and marketing arena.

The recent establishment of a Furniture Designer Committee and the promotion of design education at its universities and institutions have lead to the conjecture of ‘Age of Being Designed In China’ becoming a fast reality. Many on the ground will readily agree, the transformation from ‘Made-in- China’ to ‘Designed-in-China’ is expected to within the next two to three decades, telling the world that China is on the way to becoming an innovator and designer on a global scale. For the present, its back to business ie: pushing the country ahead and looking to its next set of figures to re-write.

Eileen Chan
Group Editor