The CICGF has 3,000 booths this year. More than 1,550 enterprises participate in the fair.

The ZJITS has an international hall this year specially arranged for exhibiting foreign companies and international purchasing groups. With 55 booths, the hall will receive 33 institutional investors from 19 countries and regions, of which New Zealand, Morocco and Poland are new participators.

Vice Governor of East China's Zhejiang Province Zhong Shan (C) gestures at a press conference in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang Province, June 7, 2007. [Chinadaily.com.cn]

Organizers predicted that there will be more than 13,600 business people attending the events from nearly 100 countries and regions including the United States, European countries, Japan and South Korea as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao.

As the host city of the previous ZJITS and CICGF sessions, Ningbo has much benefited from the two events in its economic development and social prosperity.

Up to 2006, Ningbo has had trade relations with 214 countries and regions. And 650 local enterprises have invested in 68 countries and regions, mainly private enterprises.

Ningbo's total import and export volume amounted to US$177.7 billion during 1988 and 2006 with an annual average increase of 36.6 percent. In 2006, Ningbo's total import and export volume hit US$42 billion, accounting for 30 percent of the province's total which stood at US$139.1 billion.

1

2

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)