Qingdao: When German history creates a "golden opportunity" for Thai products. When it comes to trade with China, many people think of Shanghai or Shenzhen. But for Krit Ungvituratsathit, an expert on ASEAN and China trade who has traveled to Qingdao more than 10 times, he sees hidden treasures in this northern port city.
According to Thai News Agency, Qingdao boasts unique architecture and urban planning due to its 19-year German rule during the late Qing Dynasty. The Germans laid the foundation for modern infrastructure, including a railway connecting to Jinan, a beautiful Bavarian-style city plan, and most famously, the establishment of the Qingdao Brewery in 1903. This has given the city a European atmosphere and a strong urban management system that continues to this day.
Geographically, Qingdao, situated on a peninsula jutting into the Bohai Gulf, is one of the world's top ten largest ports and a crucial strategic point for cross-border cargo transportation to North and South Korea and Japan, reachable by sea in just a day. Qingdao is therefore considered the "neck" or first gateway to Beijing and Tianjin.
Krit analyzes Qingdao's key advantages for Thai entrepreneurs as follows: Qingdao has the third-largest GDP in China. Although its population density is not as high as other provinces, its per capita income is as high as Shanghai. Competition is less intense than in major southern cities (Red Ocean), making them ideal areas for creating a "sandbox" or testing ground for new products. Fresh fruits, especially durian and mangosteen, as well as Thai health products, are in high demand. Currently, there are still fewer Thai goods arriving at Qingdao port, presenting an opportunity to gain market share.
This exclusive business trip to Qingdao is more than just a vacation; it's an in-depth exploration leveraging strong connections, both through Mr. Krit's adoptive sister, a billionaire in Qingdao, and through collaboration with the Thai Consulate in Qingdao. This allows Thai businesspeople to meet local entrepreneurs and gain insights not available on typical tours.
In summary, Qingdao is not just a tourist city with beautiful architecture and beaches, but a "strategic survival strategy" for Thai products seeking to enter the northern Chinese market at lower costs and with less risk than launching in major cities with excessive competition.