Import expo welcomes SME buyers

The second edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) welcomed the participation of small- and medium-sized enterprises as buyers, the bureau said in Shanghai Thursday.

Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the CIIE, made the comment at a special roadshow on the Bund in the evening, as the 43-story Citic Group Tower on the other side of the Bund was lighted up with the expo's logo and mascot.

"It marks that we've entered the next step of the preparation of the expo — inviting buyers," Sun said, adding that the registration of exhibitors had ended successfully last month.

He said the expo will invite more buyers from the private sector, especially the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who didn't have much chance to participate in the first import expo.

Yang Chao, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, said the city has already formed a trade mission that includes more enterprises for the second CIIE.

The buyer registration will be open until the end of September, and the bureau will run a nationwide tour of roadshows in partnership with the Bank of China in coming months.