The ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) will open in Shanghai on Thursday, with exhibition setup complete and support services ready.
Currently all booths have been set up, with exhibits in place and equipment tested, according to the organizers.
The expo will bring together 162 countries, regions and international organizations and 4,142 overseas companies. Its total exhibition area will exceed 440,000 square meters for the first time. More than 300 Fortune Global 500 companies and other industry leaders are expected to attend, setting a record.
Nearly 200 companies and organizations are expected to attend for the ninth time, having participated in every previous edition. More than 2,000 companies will make their first appearance. More than 480 featured exhibits are set to make their global, Asian or Chinese debuts.
A new Global National Brands Zone will showcase some 100 local brands from around the world, including more than 30 with a history of at least a century. The displays will feature specialty foods and everyday goods, with several new products making their debut.
The expo will also feature a number of firsts. A dedicated China-EU medical-device trade matchmaking event will be held to put the outcomes of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultations (TIC) into practice. A first report on frontier and deep-tech ("black tech" and "hard tech") products will select 10 and 15 examples, respectively, from more than 10,000 exhibits.
Organizers will also introduce a one-stop service system dubbed the "Four-Leaf Clover" and bring in 100 humanoid exoskeleton robots to make event operations smarter and participation more convenient.
"African countries are taking an active part in the ninth CIIE that is taking place this year, and exhibition space for African companies continues to grow steadily. Seychelles, Gabon and Somalia will participate in the Country Exhibition for the first time. Cote d'Ivoire's official agency will organize a collective delegation for the first time, bringing several companies to the Enterprise and Business Exhibition. The Africa and Asia Products Zone will also be upgraded, bringing more African products to Chinese consumers," said Xiao Lu, deputy secretary of the Party committee of the China International Import Expo Bureau.
The expo expects to use about 6.1 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity, making it a fully green-powered event. An integrated smart power-monitoring system will track the venue's electricity supply and flag potential risks early to help ensure safe, reliable power.
Smart tax-refund terminals will allow overseas visitors to receive refunds immediately after purchases, with funds credited in real time. A dedicated financial-services plan will also provide comprehensive support for exhibitors and buyers.
Ninth China International Import Expo set to open in Shanghai
