China Products Fair exhibits in Amman

"The China Products Fair at the Amman International Automotive Exhibition is a big event attracting many businessmen, especially Jordanian, Iraqi, Lebanese and other Gulf visitors currently in the Kingdom," says Mazen Kawar, one of the managing partners of the Petra Travel and Tourism Company in Amman and the organizer of the fair.

Many top Chinese industrial, manufacturing and services companies are standing as exhibitors to a market they see as lucrative because of its regional dimensions to the rest of the Arab world, says Kawar whose company has had long relations with China in the tourism sector.

Chinese company representatives from the manufacturing of sewing machines, steel bolts, fabrics, cars, trucks to precision instruments, sound scanners, and marble and other construction material and air conditioners are at the Fair and much more.

Chinese companies, some for the first time, are exhibiting heavy machinery, military equipment, telecommunications, electronic pumps and water purifications systems, gas adapters, home and office furniture and diesel generators, cookers, printing equipments, fire extinguishers and canned foodstuffs.

Some of the big names in industry in China are exhibiting in Jordan including the FLi, heavy goods manufacturer, PowerLink, a power generating, alternator and an air compressor company, and the Swan Industrial Company for Sanitary Ware. Some companies like the Double Coin, truck tyre manufactures and the Chery Car have representatives in Jordan, and see the Kingdom's geographical role as very important in the region and other international markets.

The holding of the Fair in August, and during the holiday season is a good thing because the country is already soaring with holidaymakers. One any one day of the fair businessmen could be seen asking questions with any one of the representatives in the different booths, asking questions, exchanging business cards, and trying to get the best bargains: low prices at high quality.

One visitor said: "It's actually good to deal with Chinese companies because of their reliability as they deliver on time at reasonably priced rates which is what is important in this region and because of the competitiveness of the global system."

Many visitors were also seen with their wives, taking a stroll in between booths looking at different goods and products that are on offer. But this fair is certainly not a family outing, the wives are their to help the men make up their minds on particular items on display.

The volume of trade relations between Jordan and China stood at $1.3 billion in 2006, a 15 percent increase on 2005, and the trend is likely to be upwards in the foreseeable future experts say. Already China has 153 million worth of investments in Jordan.

"Having exhibitors from China on Jordanian grounds is good for Jordan and good for global business and serves as a source of interaction between Arab businessmen and their Chinese counterparts, this must be a good thing because it brings us closer together," he concludes.