Entrepreneurs invited to China's largest trade show |19 September 2005

The fair will take place from October 22 to 26 at the China Commodity City Exhibition Center in Yiwu, Zhejiang.

Foreign traders can access a variety of interesting range of products including houseware, electronic and electrical appliances, hardware and tools, stationery and sports articles, toys, gifts, art and craft ornaments, textile accessories, cosmetic, leather goods, among others. 

Among the world's leading companies to be present at the show are Walmart, Lotus Supercenter, Carrefour and Metro.

The Yiwu fair was started in 1995 and in 2002 it was upgraded as an international commodities fair.  Due to its distinct features, prominent internationalisation, convenient information access, perfect services systems as well as sound security and sanitation, the Yiwu Fair ranks number 3, only after Canton Fair and East China Fair. It is the biggest and the most efficient fair of general merchandise in the country. In 2002, it was regarded as on of the top 10 events in the industry of Chinese exhibition, and was awarded as one of the top 10 Chinese new exhibitions in 2003 and one of 2004's best exhibitions.

The fair will cover an area of 80,000 square metres and will comprise 3,000 international standard booths, will see 1,700 exhibitors and the participation of more than 13,000 foreign traders. There will be more than 72 trading and 15 trans-national purchase groups at the fair.

The Yiwu market is also open all year round and the suppliers accept small quantity orders and lots of items can be mixed in one container. The items are sold at original factory prices and most of the goods are in stock and can be delivered within two weeks.

At last year's edition, the best selling goods were home appliances, craft works and gifts.

Interested entrepreneurs can apply for a Visa through the Chinese Embassy.

The Yiwu province itself is a flourishing market, developing economy with the leading commodity industry in the regional economy. Currently, the Yiwu commodity market possesses an area of 1.5 million sq.m. and has 40,000 stores, collects 28 categories and about 200,000 varieties of daily goods. Throughput is nearly 10,000 tonnes, market business volume is on top of the nation-wide large special markets for 12 successive years, and has been granted the unique market title of being one that pays attention to quality.

Furthermore, the Yiwu market has been an international commodity distribution centre and the important base for foreign merchants to purchase commodity. The industrial economy is rapidly aggregating and strengthening, and currently has developed and is exploiting industrial park areas of 64 square kilometres, with more than 1,300 enterprises. It has also cultivated a group of predominant industries, scale enterprises and famous products of socks, ornaments, zippers, cosmetics, shirts, cultural articles, pen-making, toys, among others.