Sino-French agricultural trade cooperation center unveiled in south China’s Guangdong

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Agricultural Produce Trading Center was officially opened on Tuesday in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, signaling a new phase in Sino-French agricultural trade collaboration.

This initiative is a partnership between China’s KINGOLD Group and France’s Rungis International Market, aiming to establish the largest “vegetable basket” project in the region, which will facilitate direct access to high-quality French agricultural products for Chinese consumers.

Situated in the Baiyun District of Guangzhou, the center covers an area of 2,000 mu (around 133 hectares), with the first phase encompassing over 910,000 square meters.

The facility will include multi-level trading centers, a global food showcase center, a smart cold chain center, urban distribution hubs, and an international exhibition center, handling a variety of products such as fresh produce, imported ingredients, seafood, and cut flowers. The first phase is expected to accommodate over 2,000 vendors.

“The trading center will function as a comprehensive, high-quality procurement platform, with an anticipated annual turnover of more than 100 billion yuan (approximately 14 billion U.S. dollars),” stated Zhou Zerong, chairman of KINGOLD Group.

Zhou added that Rungis’ established management and operational skills will help create an internationally-oriented platform with standards that promote the global exchange of premium Chinese and French goods.

Rungis International Market, renowned for its advanced food safety management and logistics systems, entered into a close cooperation agreement with KINGOLD Group in April 2024.

Sylvain Fourriere, the consul general of France in Guangzhou, emphasized that the center will not only address local needs but also serve as an international hub for agricultural products, linking the Greater Bay Area to global supply chains. He noted that this center will usher in a new era for agri-food trade, establishing high standards for quality, sustainability, and logistics.

“Agri-food is a sector where our two countries possess complementary expertise and a genuine passion for gastronomy, particularly in Guangdong,” Fourriere added.