Business
Second Hainan Expo reveals increasingly stronger appeal of Chinese market

The second China International Consumer Products Expo, also known as the Hainan Expo, recently concluded in Haikou, in south China’s Hainan province.
The six-day event received more than 280,000 visits, and increasedexhibition spaceovernearly 20 percent from the previous session. More than 2,800 brands from over 60 countries and regions participated in the event. Over 600 new products were released at the 177 launch events held during the expo.
The Hainan Expo, by expanding new space of open cooperation,has further energized global recovery.
China’s imports and exports bucked the trend in the first half of this year, with the foreign trade of goods jumping 9.4 percent year on year.
China firmly promotes higher-level opening up and is committed to trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. The hosting of the Hainan Expo bore special significance as global recovery and trade growth remained sluggish.
China’s hosting of the expo, which focused on consumer goods, would have a positive impact on boosting consumption, promoting trade and improving the economy, said Zhang Xiangchen, deputy director-general of the WTO.
He called the expo and the construction of the Hainan free trade port an important measure for China to comprehensively deepen reform, promote higher-level opening up, drive high-quality economic development and promote global trade and economic cooperation.
China has provided a huge market for global enterprises, said PamelaCoke-Hamilton, executive director of the International Trade Center (ITC), a joint agency of the WTO and the UN.
The ITC has established cooperation with the China International Import Expo to help micro- and small-sized enterprises from developing countries seek business opportunities, she said, adding that the WTO-UN joint agency hopes to explore more possibilities of cooperation with the Hainan Expo.
Hainan is working to build a free trade port with Chinese characteristics and global influence. The Hainan Expo demonstrated China’s efforts to give play to the advantages brought by the Hainan free-trade port in comprehensively deepening reforms and putting up the highest-level opening-up policies on a trial basis, and contributed to deepening bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation.
MatthewMargulies, senior vice president of China operations for the U.S.-China Business Council, believes that the construction of the Hainan free trade port has attracted a number of enterprises and huge human resources.He stated that the Hainan free trade port will provide unparalleled development opportunities for global enterprises.
China, firmly implementing a strategy of expanding domestic demand, gives play to consumption in leading the economic cycle. It has become the world’s second largest consumption market, with expanding consumption and a constant upgrading of its consumption structure.
Compared with the previous year, the Japanese pavilion became bigger and the number of Japanese exhibitors doubled, said Shimizu Kenji, director-general of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Guangzhou. He added that Japanese enterprises took the Hainan Expo as an opportunity to seek growth.
The three major brands under Tapestry, Inc., an American multinational luxury fashion holding company, launched a number of products at the Hainan Expo. They livestreamed the launch events to present their products to more consumers.
Yang Baoyan, President of Tapestry Asia Pacific, told People’s Daily that the company enjoyed robust momentum in China over recent yearsand announced to set up its China travel retail headquarters in Hainan in April this year.
Honson To, Chairman of KPMG Asia Pacific and KMPG China, said the Hainan Expo has become a bridge matching global products and services and demonstrated the strong appeal of the super large Chinese market. He added that exhibition of premium products from across the world has established a platform for multi-country cooperation.
Many reports have noted China’s green consumption trend. A report by the China Institute for Reform and Development said the general trend of China’s consumption restructuring remains unchanged, and green consumption has been highlighted as a new type of consumption.
Another report by Ernst & Young indicated that Chinese consumers showed the strongest awareness for sustainable development among all respondents from 24 countries.
Business
CBN expresses commitment to FX Code

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Nigerian Foreign Exchange (FX) Code, stating that its operations align with the principles of the code.
In a statement signed by Governor Olayemi Cardoso, Deputy Governor of Economic Policy Mohammad Abdullahi, and Director of the Financial Markets Department Dr. Omolara Duke, the apex bank emphasized that its decision follows a review of the FX Global Code and recognition that the code represents a set of principles widely acknowledged as good practice in the foreign exchange market.
The statement confirmed that the CBN acts as a regulator to market participants as defined by the code and is committed to overseeing FX market activities in a manner consistent with its principles.
“To this end, the Bank has taken appropriate steps, based on the size and complexity of the FX Market, and therefore aligns its roles with the principles of the Code,” the statement added.
Business
FG launches electronic asset register to boost investment

The Federal Government has launched a national electronic assets register to provide real-time access to information on government-owned assets, aiming to enhance transparency and attract more investments into the country.
The digital registry was introduced by the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, during an event that also featured the unveiling of a compendium of FAAC allocations to federal, state, and local governments from 2020 to 2023.
Madein described the initiative as a major milestone in improving public resource management, emphasizing that it is essential for financial sustainability and integrity. She stated that the project aligns with the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in handling public funds and assets.
She noted that giving citizens access to information about public asset management would increase government accountability. “Whether it is infrastructure, equipment, or other public property, every asset must be accounted for,” she said.
The real-time access provided by the digital register is expected to support policy formulation, budgeting, and planning. Madein explained that by having a clear understanding of the government’s assets and their conditions, policymakers can make more informed decisions on resource allocation, investment management, and potential privatisation or public-private partnerships (PPPs) for underutilized assets.
She added that the initiative also aligns with international best practices, supporting Nigeria’s adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). These standards will help strengthen the credibility and integrity of the country’s financial statements.
On the compendium of FAAC allocations, Madein stated that it provides a detailed breakdown of revenue distribution to the three tiers of government and serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and the general public.
Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Aniete, who officially unveiled the compendium, praised the Accountant General’s efforts in promoting transparency and accountability. She described the electronic asset register as an important tool that will help determine the real value of Nigeria’s assets and create opportunities for local and foreign investment.
Business
Tariff increase will push available power generation to 7,000MW — Minister

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has stated that the proposed electricity tariff increase will help boost Nigeria’s available power generation capacity to 7,000 megawatts (MW). This comes after the country recorded its highest-ever available power generation of 6,003MW and a peak evacuation of 5,801.84MW last week.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu emphasized that tariff regularization is crucial for unlocking the sector’s full potential and sustaining ongoing improvements in power generation and distribution.
“To sustain these improvements, the government would have to pay down the tariff shortfalls of N1.94 trillion for 2024 and address legacy debts of N2 trillion to the GENCOs,” the minister said. He added that continued tariff reforms are necessary to ensure that consumers start paying for the energy they consume.
Adelabu reiterated the government’s intention to raise electricity tariffs for customers in Bands B, C, and D as part of efforts to enhance the sector’s liquidity and reduce subsidy obligations. The planned tariff hike is expected to narrow the gap between Band A customers—who currently pay higher rates—and those in lower bands.
The minister noted that Nigeria recently set another milestone with a daily maximum energy output of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours (MWh), attributing these achievements to ongoing reforms and infrastructural upgrades in the sector.
“We are thrilled to announce these historic milestones in Nigeria’s power sector,” Adelabu stated. “These achievements represent a brighter future where businesses can thrive, households can enjoy uninterrupted power supply, and the economy can grow sustainably.”
According to the minister, recent improvements result from collaborative efforts by the Federal Ministry of Power and key stakeholders to address longstanding challenges in the sector. These include the rehabilitation and upgrading of transmission and distribution networks, implementation of innovative technologies to enhance efficiency, and policy reforms aimed at improving accountability and sustainability.
While celebrating these milestones, Adelabu called for continued support from state governments, private sector stakeholders, and the general public. He stressed the need for collective action to sustain the momentum and build upon the progress made.
With power generation at a record high and tariff reforms on the horizon, stakeholders are hopeful that Nigeria’s electricity supply will see lasting improvements, ensuring stable and reliable power for businesses and households nationwide.
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