Procurement fair targets matchmaking

THE 17th China (Shanghai) International Sourcing Fair has set up nine procurement areas to improve matchmaking between buyers and sellers while overseas buyers at this year’s fair accounts for 60 percent.

The nine procurement areas are for internationally renowned buyers, the United Nations and international organizations, Chinese brand buyers, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) buyers, mechanical parts firms, electronics companies, metal industry, textiles and clothing, and consumer goods.

This year’s fair places greater emphasis on improving the targeted matchmaking of sectors with buyers and sellers.

The fair has also invited 411 buyers from more than 27 countries and regions. The proportion of overseas buyers is 60 percent, with over 200 buyers coming from countries and regions along the “Belt and Road.”

The ISF China (Shanghai) International Multinational Purchasing Forum was also held yesterday.

Senior government officials, domestic and foreign procurement associations, representatives of multinational companies, Chinese procurement managers, and experts and scholars discussed the issue of cross-border procurement at the forum.

In the first half of this year, the total import and export value of China’s goods was 14.12 trillion yuan (US$2.05 trillion), up 7.9 percent over the same period last year.

The three-day ISF, the largest procurement fair in China jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai government, opened yesterday with 524 booths spread over 20,000 square meters at the Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing.