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THE China Shaoxing International Textile Expo has become an annual must-see event for those in the textiles industry – a four-day whirlwind of the latest fabrics, machinery, and textile science and technology. Constant fashion shows allow industry personnel to see the fruits of their labors and provide a break from fever-pitch trading. Since the first event in 1999, the number of booths has exploded from 333 to 1,229, while the total value of transactions at the expo has swelled from RMB 0.5 billion to RMB 3.858 billion. The eighth expo, held from October 21 to 24, 2007, attracted thousands of visitors.

Since its launch, the expo has grown to become a truly international occasion. In 2007, 466 corporate exhibitors packed the expo venue, including 214 operations from outside Shaoxing. International guests came from 15 developed nations and regions such as Europe, the U.S. and Japan. For the first time enterprises in the worlds top 500 list of companies were in attendance – namely Itochu Corporation and Formosa Plastics Group – as well as textile design companies from the U.S., the U.K., Germany and Italy. The strong cosmopolitan flavor was facilitated by effective collaboration with transnational exhibition companies and industrial organs, including Messe Frankfurt (Hong Kong) Ltd. and the China Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of Textiles.

Purchasers also attended in unprecedented numbers – 1,487 from 23 countries and regions includingEurope, North America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. In term of the range and quality of products on display, many attendees favorably compared Shaoxing expo to events in bigger cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Its widely agreed that the fabrics shown at Shaoxing are on par with those made in Europe, the U.S., the R.O.K. and Japan, but have much lower price tags attached.

In addition to the displays at the main venue, the expo hosted a range of complementary activities, such as awards for the most influential Chinese brand names, forums on the influence of local brands and market development, a signing ceremony for investment projects in Shaoxing, and various investment promotions. Events such as these broaden the expos influence and appeal, as well as offering insights into Shaoxing itself.

The 2007 expo also saw the launch of the countrys first textile index. The China-Keqiao Textile Index is a joint project between the Ministry of Commerce, Zhejiang Provincial Economic and Trade Commission, and the Peoples Government of Shaoxing County. Data is collected from local wholesale fabric and fabric raw materials markets, as well as producers and exporters in Shaoxing. Products are then classified in light of international and national statistical norms to produce a weekly pricing index, and monthly figures on the number of orders and exports, and overall industry health. Experts believe that the index will give Chinas textile industry more say in world trade, and have a positive influence on textile prices as well as development of the industry.

Having achieved new heights in terms of the events scale in 2007, expo organizers are now planning the ninth event later this year. Although admission qualifications for exhibitors are strict, rates for exhibiting are negotiable. In less than a decade, Shaoxing expo has become a high-profile international event that has well and truly put Shaoxing on the textile industry map.