REGIONAL> Development
13th CIFIT preparatory work winds down
By Hu Meidong and Liu Xintian (China Daily Fujian Bureau)
Updated: 2009-07-31 17:58

Preparatory work for the 13th China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT) is coming to an end in time for its opening on September 8 in Xiamen.

This year's Fair will boast a 60,000m² exhibition area, an increase of 8,000 m² over last year. Several international organizations will be taking part, and 58 countries and regions are already confirmed to attend.

The CIFIT organizing committee is sparing no effort in providing high quality, efficient and convenient services for merchants scheduled to attend the Fair from home and abroad to ensure the safety, order and success of the 13th CIFIT, according to a recent press conference.

"Faced with new challenges and opportunities, the organizing committee of the 13th CIFIT will try to promote an all-around effect and ensure the success of this event," Lin Changcong, vice secretary and office chief of the organizing committee and vice secretary of the Fujian provincial government, said during a CIFIT news conference held on July 31.

Five main issues will be emphasized at this year's CIFIT including international investment and cooperation, industry investment attraction, exchange and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, outbound advantages and characteristic goods marketing, and the release of investment policies and information.

Contents on display at the 13th CIFIT will be more abundant than in previous years. Exhibition areas such as estate investment, the culture innovation industry, agriculture investment attraction, and Taiwan commodities will be added.

Many international economy and trade exchange activities will also be featured, such as the Latin America and Caribbean countries trade fair and investment project fair, and the 5th Sino-Norway free trade area workshop.

The task of inviting merchants to the Fair has been going well, according to Lin. Merchants from home and abroad have been actively applying for the 13th CIFIT, with over 300 organizations in 72 regions having applied to attend the fair so far.

The forum seminar of the 13th CIFIT is expected to be a highlight. Currently, 52 high level forum seminars and information release activities are already confirmed. The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) will hold 23 2009 International Investment Forums, concerning outsourcing services, urban and rural coordination, government procurement, trade facilitation, green industry, financial leasing and risk control.

"The 13th CIFIT will focus on two themes of "bringing in and going out" by means of seminars, exhibitions, and project negotiation to show China's determination on anti-protectionism and opening up, and to act as the platform for merchants' cooperation and seek commercial opportunities to build people's confidence in recovery of the world economy," Cao Hongying, the vice special commissioner of the MOC assigned to Fuzhou, said.