Bright future for Chinese lighting products

In addition to traditional markets in Europe and the US, the Zhongshan-based company has also been looking for new business opportunities in emerging markets. "Market demand in the Middle East and Africa has kept growing in recent years," said Deng.

To attract more overseas buyers, the company displayed its latest lighting technologies and innovative products at a recent international lighting fair in Guzhen town, dubbed "China's lighting capital".

Guzhen's lighting industrial output value reaches more than 100 billion yuan annually, accounting for 70 percent of China's lighting market, according to the fair's organizers.

The fair, held in late March, featured the latest innovative lighting products and technologies from thousands of Chinese companies and drew more than 2,200 international buyers from 132 countries and regions, according to the organizers.

The products in the fair's main venue covered the entire lighting industrial chain with numerous subcategories ranging from smart, decorative, residential, commercial, outdoor and cultural tourism lighting to lamps and equipment accessories.

The organizers said 21 lighting industrial projects with fixed investments of more than 1.5 billion yuan were signed during the lighting event's opening ceremony. The projects are expected to generate an annual output value of about 2 billion yuan.

Smart technologies and green elements have become new highlights of exports in the expanding lighting industry in Zhongshan, said Ou Decheng, executive vice-chairman of the local lighting industry association.

"The concentrated smart lighting industry chains are a competitive advantage for Zhongshan's lighting fixtures in the global market," said Ou.

The market share of lighting products from Zhongshan in the global market is surging, especially in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Ou added.

The export value of lighting products and their components in Zhongshan witnessed a year-on-year increase of 41.5 percent to 3.02 billion yuan in the first two months of this year, mirroring the booming lighting industry in the city, according to local Customs.

The Guzhen government has also actively built platforms, strengthened information exchanges and helped break down trade barriers for local lighting enterprises to tap overseas markets.

"We guide companies to win orders, participate in multiple international exhibitions, and promote financial services such as export credit, export settlement and export insurance for companies," said Ruan Zhili, mayor of Guzhen.

"We hope to further strengthen the international development of the local lighting industry, especially to lay a better foundation for exports."