Major agreement brings Hong Kong's largest new trade show to the Middle East

The agreement will bring the China Sourcing Fair: Gift & Home Products - one of Hong Kong's largest trade shows - to Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The China Sourcing Fair: Gift & Home Products in Hong Kong features more than 3,600 booths from over 2,000 leading Chinese exhibitors looking to forge links with regional partners.

It will be the first time that the Fair has been held outside of Greater China and has the potential to be the largest gathering of Chinese businesses and delegations ever organised within the Middle East.

Following the signing ceremony, 20 booths were snapped up by Chinese companies eager to do business in the Middle East, reinforcing the demand that exists in the market.

Hong Kong and Dubai are often portrayed as sharing many economic characteristics, in terms of entrepreneurial spirit and rapid development, and both companies are confident that this will provide a solid foundation for their cooperation. Chinese - UAE bilateral trade broke through the $10.7 billion mark in 2005, up by 32.3 per cent over the previous year.

"This partnership opens an exciting new chapter through the collaboration between Dubai World Trade Centre and Global Sources, and by extension we believe it will lead to new developments in the relationship between organizations in the UAE and China,"

said Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre.

"Global Sources has unmatched experience in organising trade shows and exhibitions within Greater China, and we feel that our combined resources will enable us to work together to deliver a series of landmark events for businesses within the Middle East and internationally," he added.

Equally, representatives for Global Sources, which has over 35 years of experience in developing global trading opportunities, expressed confidence in the strength and potential of the new partnership.

Chuck Armitage, General Manager of Global Sources Exhibitions, said: "Bilateral trade between the UAE and Greater China seems set to continue to rise in the long-tem, so we are confident that the agreement between Dubai World Trade Centre and Global Sources will find a very receptive audience."

"We anticipate a strong group of exhibitors for the first Middle East trade show, set to run June 11 - 13, 2007, with ongoing growth as the partnership develops," he added. Product categories on display at the Fair will feature Gifts, Premiums, Toys, Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, Baby & Children Products, Fashion Accessories, Fashion Jewellery, and Luggage.

According to a study by the Hong Kong Exhibition Organisers Association, the total exhibition industry contribution to the Hong Kong economy is HK$19 billion (Dhs. 9 billion), and both groups are confident that their partnership will reap similar rewards for the UAE.

The first Middle East China Sourcing Fair: Gifts and Home Products is set to run in June 2007.