From June 22 to 26, the 4th China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) is being held in Beijing. A total of 676 companies and organizations from 85 countries and regions are participating, with Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders accounting for more than 65 percent of exhibitors.

As the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) marks six months since the launch of island-wide special customs operations, the province is making its debut at the expo as the Guest Province of Honor.

Exterior view of the Hainan Pavilion at the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo.

Hainan: A Gateway to China's New Opportunities

As the world's first national-level exhibition dedicated to supply chain cooperation, CISCE has, over the past three editions, evolved into a globally influential platform for international economic and trade exchanges.

With the Hainan FTP's special customs operations entering the sixth month, the province's appearance at the center stage of CISCE comes at a fitting moment.

The Hainan FTP serves both as a window into China's high-level opening-up and as a gateway to the country's vast market.

First, the FTP offers opportunities through institutional opening-up. Since the launch of special customs operations, Hainan has fully implemented a policy framework characterized by "freer access at the first tier, regulated access at the second tier, and freer circulation within the island."

For global businesses, entering Hainan means gaining access to a more transparent regulatory environment, more efficient customs clearance procedures, and lower operating costs. These represent China's proactive effort to share the dividends of institutional innovation with the world.

Interior view of the Hainan Pavilion at the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo.

Second, Hainan presents opportunities as a "dual-circulation" hub. Offering access to China's enormous domestic market and located close to the Southeast Asia market, and with links to both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Hainan occupies a strategic position within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

The vitality of this platform is already evident. As of May 31, 2026, the value of Hainan's total goods trade reached 173.98 billion yuan (about USD 24.2 billion), up 54.6 percent year on year.

For multinational corporations, incorporating Hainan into supply chain networks means connecting simultaneously to China's consumer market and the fast-growing ASEAN market. Few places in the world can offer such a unique combination of geographic and market advantages.

Third, Hainan is creating opportunities through industrial development. At the Guest Province Pavilion, Hainan is showcasing the "45432" development framework, a blueprint designed to strengthen and upgrade "4" leading industries, cultivate distinctive industrial chains under the "5" Oriented Development strategy, proactively develop "4" emerging future industries, enhance "3" major consumer shopping sectors, and develop "2" hubs - a talent hub and an innovation hub.

This is no longer just a blueprint on a wall. In 2025, Hainan’s four pillar industries accounted for 65.9% of the province’s GDP, bringing in 558.34 billion yuan (USD 82.6  billion). To maintain this momentum, the government has implemented a "Chain Chief" responsibility system for 12 key industrial clusters, including aerospace and the low-altitude economy, with each cluster aiming to attract at least one flagship project worth over 1 billion yuan.

The Business Environment section inside the Hainan Pavilion at the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo.

For investors, this means entering a mature and rapidly evolving industrial ecosystem.

The first six months of FTP special customs operations have demonstrated the value of these opportunities and accelerated the formation of Hainan's supply chain advantages.

The results of this institutional shift are already tangible: average customs clearance times for imports have been slashed by 20%, and over 170,000 new business entities were registered in the first six months of the year—a 61.07% surge compared to the previous year.

Hainan is leveraging policies that promote opening-up to drive development and using the certainty of institutional openness to navigate an increasingly uncertain external environment. This is the significance of Hainan's role as Guest Province of Honor, the responsibility of the Hainan Free Trade Port, and China's commitment to sharing development opportunities with the world.

Connecting Opportunities at the Supply Chain Expo

As a first-time Guest Province of Honor, how is Hainan making use of this high-level international platform to share the benefits of the Free Trade Port and China's development opportunities?

The answer lies in the province’s exhibition theme: "Hainan FTP on the Supply Chain, Sharing New Opportunities." More than a slogan, this theme reflects Hainan's commitment and approach.

Bridging gaps through efficient supply chains, Hainan is showcasing amazing opportunities at the CISCE.

As the Guest Province, Hainan is facilitating a series of pragmatic engagements at the event. The 200-square-meter Hainan exhibition hall offers a condensed, immersive way to experience the island’s policy advantages and industrial maturity.

Exterior view of the Hainan Pavilion at the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo.

Notably, four Hainan-based companies have established independent exhibition booths covering health and wellness, green agriculture, and supply chain services.

This not only demonstrates the policy advantages that Hainan offers, but also presents global industry leaders with concrete opportunities for cooperation and investment.

Crucially, Hainan is bridging the gap between exhibition and implementation. During the Beijing showcase, Hainan is hosting a targeted investment promotion conference, with 43 high-profile domestic and international firms—including heavyweights like Yum Brands—in attendance.

Representatives from more than 20 international business associations and globally renowned enterprises—including the Singapore Business Federation, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, TCP Group, Medtronic, GE HealthCare, Visa, A.P. Moller-Maersk, Cargill, and the China General Technology Group—are slated to attend related meetings and discussions.

From investment promotion conferences to one-on-one negotiations, and from corporate dialogues to high-level engagement, Hainan is building a targeted global investment network at CISCE.

The province is also creating synergy with another major national exhibition platform—the China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE).

During the investment promotion conference, Hainan has arranged a special session to promote the seventh CICPE, inviting global consumer brands, cross-border traders, and international buyers to participate.

With one exhibition focused on markets and the other on industries, the two platforms complement and reinforce each other, generating mutual benefits and expanding opportunities for global businesses.

Under the spotlight of CISCE, Hainan stands ready to welcome businesses from around the world to share opportunities, expand cooperation, and achieve mutual success.