Li Bin came from Canada to take part in the 16th China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen, Fujian province.

Li is a senior sales manager with Yage (Xiamen) Investment Co Ltd, which specializes in the production of men's clothing, and looks for markets abroad to sell the company's products and to look for potential investment.

"The fair is an important channel to get the information that I need," Li said, adding he has been to seminars on investment skills and knowledge in several countries and areas.

"There are so many seminars and exhibitions worth exploring, and I have to be careful that the ones I do attend can give me something valuable. I don't have the luxury of time to go to ones that aren't useful," he said.

Li is not alone in seeking opportunities at the fair.

This year's exhibition covers 100,000 square meters, and has attracted 4,000 booths from more than 50 countries and areas.

There are also lots of business seminars offering help on various topics.

Li Yuanwen, managing director of HongXing Erke Group, a major Chinese sports clothing supplier, has already attended several seminars and exhibitions at the fair.

"I've got information on almost every aspect of expanding a company globally," Li said. "It has been very useful."

Xu Youling, a manager with Yirong Arts and Crafts Co Ltd, based in Longyan, Fujian province, said her company sends their managers to the fair every year.

"Taking part in this fair is an annual event for us," Xu said. "The fair is very informative and we never fail to get useful information and contacts to expand our business."

Xu's company has more than 1,000 employees. It designs, produces and sells furnishings and household decorations in China, but is keen to expand its business abroad.

Before the fair's opening ceremony, Xu and her colleagues had already made detailed plans on how to make the most of their time during the event.

Different groups had different tasks.

Xu and one of her colleagues Zheng Qiujin went to seminars on making investments in foreign countries, to collect information and contacts. Others went to sessions on how best to seek and source new business opportunities.

"Information is opportunity," Xu said. "And if you come (to this fair), you just never know what opportunities might come your way."

However, Xu did have one criticism of the massive event: there weren't enough signposts explaining how to get around.

"If there were more signs, the fair would have been perfect," Xu said.

liuzhihua@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/10/2012 page7)