Design helps upgrading exporters

A September event in the coastal city of Xiamen aims to increase the competitiveness of Chinese exporters amid sluggish overseas demand.

China International Design Business Week is being organized by the leading German design house of Red Dot and the China Chamber of Commerce for Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts.

The five-day event, which will be Sept 8-12, will have an exhibition of more than 1,000 works of design in furniture, lamps, bath products, gifts, luggage and handbags from leading design houses both at home and abroad.

A forum will inspire domestic producers to create high-value products to meet the needs of the international market, said Zhang Jie, vice president of the China chamber.

"Chinese producers of daily consumption goods do not have a high level of innovation, design and development, and thus the added value for the exports are not high. The event aims to introduce the word's best design cases and concept into China and enhance the competitiveness of domestic exports," Zhang said.

"Low price will no longer be an effective strategy for Chinese exporter in the international market because of the sluggish demand in developed economies. Design, branding, service and technology will help domestic players transform or upgrade and win a new competitive edge," he said.