Light industry fair to be held in Wenzhou ( 2003-07-29 08:04) (China Daily) The city of Wenzhou in East
China's Zhejiang Province will host an international light industry products
fair on October 12, its Mayor Liu Qi announced in
Shanghai yesterday.
Liu told a press conference that the fair will
help introduce the world to China's light industry and make the nation's
products better known in the global marketplace.
The fair will consist of
three parts --- an exhibition of light industry products, a furniture show and a
display of printing techniques and gifts. Several seminars will also be
held.
Liu told China Daily that a number of multinational retailers are
also expected to take part.
"Holding the fair will help turn Wenzhou into
a global light industry manufacturing centre within the next 10 years,'' Liu
said.
Wenzhou held its first light industry fair last year, clinching
trade deals of 3.4 billion yuan (US$411 million) and signing project contracts
worth 140 million yuan (US$17 million).
According to the city's Foreign
Economy and Trade Commission, the city is working out a plan to restructure its
light industry, that requires small and scattered production areas be merged
into large-scale parks.
"The city government will provide land and
services, but the funds will come from private investors,'' said a commission
official.
Wenzhou, known as China's light industry manufacturing centre,
produced more than 100 billion yuan (US$12 billion) worth of products last year,
accounting for 45 per cent of its total industrial output value.
For
instance, it produced 550 million lighters last year, taking a 80 per cent stake
of the world market.
"We want to use more foreign capital and technology
to enlarge and upgrade the manufacturing centre,'' the official
said.
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