The booth of national pavillion of Honduras at CIIE Photo: Qi Xijia/GT

The national booth of Honduras attracted a constant stream of visitors at the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Monday. Although it was the country's first time to participate in the CIIE, the booth attracted many people who exchanged WeChat contacts and used their smartphones for real-time translation during business negotiations.

Business representatives in sectors ranging from coffee, cheese and chocolate to cigars and tourism agencies are actively participating in the CIIE, with excitement evident on their faces, as they seek to expand trade and tourism ties with China following the establishment of diplomatic relations. 

"It's a great opportunity for Honduran products and for Honduran entrepreneurs and producers. I think we will open a window of opportunity for our producers to bring products to the Chinese market, one of the most rapidly developing markets in the world," Foreign Minister of Honduras Eduardo Enrique Reina told the Global Times on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the booth on Monday.

According the Ministry of Tourism of Honduras, as one of the guest countries of this year's CIIE, Honduras has a 256-square-meter booth and a delegation of 25 companies. The products being showcased include coffee, bananas, flour, dairy items, cigars and seafood.
                     
"Through this CIIE, we hope to bring more products to Chinese consumers. In the past few days, we have had some business partners approaching us to discuss potential collaboration," Cristobal Nahun Cruz Santos, a coffee trader from Honduras, told the Global times on Monday.

According to the Honduran Coffee Institute, coffee is the main export product of Honduras. In 2022, the coffee industry contributed 23 percent to the Honduran economy, creating approximately 1 million jobs. During the 2021-2022 harvest season, coffee exports brought in about $1.4 billion in foreign exchange income for Honduras.

Tourism agencies in Honduras are eyeing the massive Chinese market, bringing leaflets of travel products and souvenirs to the CIIE. 

"We just want Chinese people to see our country as a new opportunity to explore, and hopefully have many Chinese people come to our country and enjoy our natural environment," Vice Tourism Minister of Honduras Reizel Vilorio Muchnik told the Global Times. 

Honduras is willing to work with China to bring new investments to hotels and air traffic to Honduras, and to establish direct flights, the official added.