With more buyers questioning the quality and safety of products made by mainland manufacturers, Global Sources is offering a product that can help.
Chief operating officer Craig Pepples said the website was a natural accompaniment for the Nasdaq-listed company's other businesses of publications, trade shows, research and events.
He said the company had been using websites to connect buyers and suppliers since the mid-90s. It was only in the past few months, however, that he'd noticed a major change in the mainland's 'visioning strategy' that suppliers in China needed to emphasise now as a result of quality concerns in the aftermath of recalls of toys containing lead, toxic toothpaste, tainted organic pet food and faulty tyres.
'It is a very timely moment that people should be thinking so clearly about quality and the problems that happen if you are not paying attention to quality. Global Sources has been working on this for some time because we anticipated there would be this kind of change.
'The launch of the new version of the website is perfect timing in terms of providing the buyer with everything that's available on the web and, more importantly, with a select group of quality suppliers that we have verified.'