As a guest of the Chinese government, GASAA Executive Officer Garry Knespal attended the 2nd Trade in Services Congress in Beijing this November. Focused on establishing business ties with overseas firms and associations in the services sector including advertising and design, the congress was a unique opportunity to see, firsthand, how to engage this economic powerhouse.

While imports from China continue to grow and put pressure on local manufacturing, China is also a huge consumer of resources and now, services. Australian creative and print services providers have a great opportunity through this GASAA initiative to do business directly with the Chinese government and its major enterprises.

The aim of the Congress was to exchange trade services information, explore international projects, expand international trade in services and seek a common development approach. Specialised trade talks covered seven sectors including design, advertising, digital animation and games, financial services, environmental services, cultural services and technology.

In particular, the design services and advertising forums presented GASAA with the opportunity to influence the direction and development of these industries in China, and open up discussion on trade to the benefit of Australian creative and print service providers.

Information released at the Congress showed the world average for the service sector as accounting for 69% in global GDP. The service sector in China however accounts for only 40% of the nation’s GDP. The Chinese government concedes that its’ service industries are undeveloped even compared to other developing countries that average 54% of GDP. Export volume of China’s service trade grew from a meagre $2.5 billion in 1982 to $146.45 billion in 2008, with annual growth rate of 17% (about twice the average growth rate of the world). The world ranking of China’s service trade exports rose from No.28 in 1982 to No.5 in 2008. Manufacturing still dominates the Chinese economy but the services sector is certainly on the rise.

Restrictions to foreign firms providing services in Asian countries are now easing as the absence or underdevelopment of important services becomes apparent in many Asian countries. Some of the influential organisations represented at the Congress were:

• China Ministry of Commerce
• Department of Trade in Service
• China Advertising Association
• China Academy of Printing Technology
• Minister of Knowledge Economy of Korea
• World Trade Organisation
• World Bank
• Directorate General for Trade, EU
• UN Conference on Trade and Development
• Organisation of Economic Development Minister of Knowledge Economy of Korea
• German Economics Ministry
• Singapore Design Institute
• Italian Industrial Design Association
• UK Trade and Investment
• International Advertising Association
• Frankfurt and Beijing Book Fare
• Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia
• Australian Interactive Media Industry Association
• Australian Services Roundtable
• Design Institute of Australia
• Austrade

Many multi-national firms were also represented at the Congress, including DDB Advertising, IBM, KPMG, Lenovo and a host of global financial institutes. In all there were over 2,000 attendees with 200 foreign guests participating from the UK, German, U.S.A., Canada, Korea, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Australians formed one of the largest groups of attending nations. By contrast the USA in particular was under-represented at this important trade event.

The growing importance of this bi-annual event is clear when one looks at the 1st Trade in Services Congress held in Shanghai in 2007 that attracted just 400 mainly Chinese based participants. Whilst managing the threat of cheap Chinese imports and the pressure they put on local manufacturing, the question is … can Australian service providers leverage off the Chinese government determination on significantly increasing the contribution the service sectors make to economy and international trade.

GASAA is working with other interested organisations and Chinese and Austrade officials to be one of the first countries to establish a Trade in Services Bureaux (China) in the near future. The body would provide a central point of contact and advice to services sector firms (including creative and print service providers) to more easily and cost effectively establish business ties with China.

Firms interested in being part of this exciting initiative should call or email Garry Knespal on 02 9386 1595 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .