Chinese Commodities Fair Sharjah generates business in excess of USD 336 million

This included agreements signed between the exhibitors and visitors for possible cooperation in the future as well.

Compared to CCFS 2003, this translates to an increase of over 200 % in terms of business generation. This dramatic surge indicates that the Fair is accepted by Middle East based companies as the region's most ideal and cost effective platform for sourcing of Chinese products and services and also for exploring investment opportunities from various regions of China.

As per figures available, whereas the actual contract signed over the five days of the show added to US $ 86.57 million, the amount attributed to intention for cooperation was in excess of US $ 249.7 million.

The five-day solo country event, sponsored by the People's Republic of China's Ministry of Commerce and organised by Chinamex and Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), hosted over 600 reputed Chinese enterprises from 31 provinces and municipalities of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The exhibition displayed over 10,000 varieties of products and represented a wide range of industries including machinery, engineering, electrical, light industry equipment, textile, and building material among others.

The CCFS, which was in its third edition this time, attracted a total of 55,071 visitors including 13,834 trade visitors from 61 countries.

The CCFS is considered to be a major booster in the trade relations between China and the GCC states as a whole and the UAE in particular.

In 2003, trade between China and the GCC states stood at US $ 16.9 billion, whereas bilateral trade between China and UAE totaled US $ 5.8 billion.

The next edition of CCFS will be held in November 2005. Given the very encouraging response received this time, next year's edition is expected to be bigger, both in terms of size and participation.