Letter from China: Latin American companies strengthen presence in China with innovation, diversification

by Pablo Domini
SHANGHAI, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) — My first experience at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai was more remarkable than expected. The energy that filled the exhibition halls was palpable, highlighting the extensive trade and cultural exchanges.
The event, one of the world’s most influential trade expos, marked its seventh edition from Nov. 5 to 10 under the theme “New Era, Shared Future,” illustrating China’s vision for its role on the global stage.
Latin America stood out as a key participant, demonstrating its strong partnership with China, evident through the national pavilions, company booths and represented organizations.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT
Among the Latin American exhibitors were several that have made innovations in the agricultural sector. A prime example is Nogyo, a startup from Rosario, Argentina. The company leverages satellite technology to gather precise agricultural data, thereby enhancing agricultural production.
The data provided by farmers trains an algorithm that incorporates weather information to improve yield predictions, said Pablo César Arcamone, co-founder of Nogyo.
He added that other companies can use the data to offer customized seed, fertilizers, agrochemicals and other services to farmers. In a second phase, the algorithm system boosts credit capacity, which can be accessed through another platform called Farm Capital, providing a credit score to increase visibility for banks and investment funds.
Brazilian company Solinftec also attracted attention at the expo with its innovative robot Solix, which is capable of performing field operations in soybean, corn, wheat and sugarcane cultivation areas. The solar-powered robot boasts multiple functions, including field mapping, targeted application of pesticides, pest control and crop-data collection.
The company has set up an office in Shenzhen, China’s tech hub, noted Natália Machado, Solinftec’s manager for global business development.
Richard Leite, Solinftec’s production and quality manager, said that the company is collaborating with Shanghai University on developing optical sensor technology and with Shandong University on artificial intelligence. The research and development results will be applied to the next generation of Solix robots.
Uruguayan unicorn company dLocal also stood out at the expo, specializing in digital payments.
Agustín Brignoni, dLocal’s head of operations for the Asia-Pacific region, said that the Chinese market is essential for the company. “Speed is everything in China, where new ideas and innovations are constantly emerging. It’s like having a glimpse of the future in advance.”

QUALITY FOODS
At the expo, the exhibition area displaying food and agricultural products was hailed as the most fragrant section, a view that aligned with my observations. The expo offered farmers in Latin America opportunities across the ocean.
The Latin American agricultural product catalog has been evolving to include more specific products with greater added value. Argentine beef served as a representative of this trend.
“The CIIE has become one of the most important trade fairs for Argentine beef, helping our companies maintain and forge new business contacts,” said Sergio Gustavo Rey, head of external promotion at the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute.
“The Chinese market has also driven our adoption of technology in processing plants, packaging and logistics transportation,” he added.
Chile celebrated an agreement at the CIIE between local cherry producer Garces Fruit and Freshippo, Alibaba’s fresh-food chain. This deal saw Freshippo establish a plant in Chile.
Such agreements ensure the supply, quality and distribution of Chilean cherries in China, said Alberto A. Cañas, trade commissioner for ProChile.
Colombian chocolate producer Lök Foods has also attracted considerable attention at the expo, with its booth bustling with visitors.
“Participating in the expo has provided us with a deeper understanding of the needs of Chinese consumers and has brought us new market opportunities,” said María Carolina Angulo, CEO & co-founder of Lök Foods.
Notably, in the first 10 months of the year, about 178,000 Chinese companies were engaged in trade with Latin America, up 6.9 percent year on year, while China-Latin America trade grew 9.1 percent.
The progress witnessed at the seventh CIIE underscored not only the aim of Latin American countries to increase exports but also emphasized China’s role in fostering broad, open and high-quality cooperation rooted in creativity and innovation. ■