(Yicai) Oct. 15 -- With the 2026 China International Import Expo fast approaching, senior executives from L’Oréal, Medtronic and other multinational companies have confirmed to Yicai that they will attend the event in person, viewing it as an opportunity to strengthen ties with local customers and business partners.

Geoff Martha, chairman and chief executive officer of American-Irish medical device company Medtronic, has confirmed to Yicai that he will lead a delegation of senior executives to this year’s expo. This will be his first time attending the CIIE.

The CIIE is not only an important platform for showcasing products, but also a valuable opportunity for Dublin-based Medtronic to have in-depth exchanges with patients, partners and policy makers in the most dynamic healthcare market in the world, Martha said.

Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of French cosmetics giant L’Oréal, has also confirmed that he will return to Shanghai with the company’s global management team to attend this year’s CIIE. For Hauts-de-Seine-based L’Oréal, the CIIE is far more than an annual event. It is an important platform for global collaboration and exchange, he said.

Frank Hammes, global CEO of Swiss air-quality technology firm IQAir, Franck Marilly, global CEO of French spirits group Rémy Cointreau, and Stéphane de La Faverie, president and CEO of US beauty company Estée Lauder have all confirmed that they will travel to Shanghai to attend the expo and participate in related events.

The CIIE provides global businesses with valuable opportunities to strengthen existing partnerships and explore new areas of cooperation, Marilly said. China is an important market for the group’s global growth and an indispensable part of its long-term strategic plans.

China is not only one of Estée Lauder’s most important markets globally, but is also an increasingly important source of talents, consumer insights and inspiration for the group, de La Faverie said. The experience and innovative practices that Estée Lauder develops here help the New York-based company to better serve consumers around the world. This is why the firm continues to invest in China, he added.

The CIIE serves as an important platform for bringing together innovative ideas from around the world, connecting businesses with consumers and partners, and turning innovation into opportunities for growth, de La Faverie added.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor