Cambodian girl brings pepper to China via trade fairs
"Now, a lot of Chinese merchants call me for pepper." Un Danin, a 29-year-old Cambodian girl, is busy traveling around China for various trade fairs, while talking with Chinese merchants on WeChat, a popular social media. All the orders will be delivered via international logistic services.
In attending the trade fairs in China, she has made an increasing number of friends on WeChat, and sales of her pepper in China are on the rise.
"I heard that people in Henan province enjoy pepper soup, so I want to visit north China for new business opportunities." Un Danin was born in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, and her family has grown peppers for decades.
"I spent my childhood free time in the pepper field, learned to grow pepper upon adulthood, and now sell pepper around the world." The life of Un Danin is closely related to pepper, which is an essential condiment on the dinner table and a major source of income for the family.
The first China-ASEAN Expo in 2004 allowed the Un Danin family to sell pepper to the Chinese market for the first time. "Few people were interested in our pepper, let alone buying it." Back then, Cambodian peppers were not popular in China. However, her family did not give up.
"Our peppers are rich in variety, fine in quality, and unique in flavor. It is the first Cambodian produce with a geographical indication (GI). Given the market potential, we believe high-quality peppers will finally sell well here in China." Un Danin said that by participating in the commodity exhibitions, she could get more Chinese people to know about and taste the Cambodian pepper.
In 2014, the then 25-year-old Un Danin came to China in person for the first time and has since become a frequent visitor to various exhibitions in China: the China-ASEAN Expo, the China International Import Expo, the China-South Asia Expo, the China Import and Export Fair...
In her view, the Chinese exhibitions belong to the top ones with varied business opportunities. Participating in the trading events for many years, the Un Danin family was rated as an outstanding exhibitor at the China-ASEAN Expo in 2018. "Instead of sales, we value more the opportunities at the fairs, which allow us to meet more Chinese business partners."
In the past years, Un Danin has made friends with pepper dealers and restaurant owners, and they are all “keys” to the Chinese market. "It is easy to talk to Chinese merchants via Wechat." Since Un Danin became a WeChat user, she has shared pictures of the Cambodian pepper on her Moments, shipping goods to Chinese merchants and doing business via the social media.
"I heard that people in Henan province enjoy pepper soup, so I want to visit north China for new business opportunities," said Un Danin. In the future, she will make the Cambodian pepper popular in more Chinese provinces.
By Gateway reporters