High expectations of Shanghai

The Pet Fair in Shanghai scored a major success last year with 250 exhibitors from 59 countries and an exhibition area of over 15 000 m², underlining the fact that the pet industry is booming in Asia and especially in China. For 2005, as a renewed concept of Pet Fair Asia, Pet Fair Asia Professional has been constructed as a strictly business-to-business event. Targeting international buyers who are interested in finding affordable ways to diversify their supply line, Pet Fair Asia Professional will be held at The Shanghai New International Expo Centre for two days. Pet Fair Asia Professional is regarded as the place to meet China’s suppliers to the pet industry. The fair organiser, VNU Exhibition Asia, is offering all interested parties from the industry or professional buyers a convenient way to make an entrance into China’s emerging domestic consumer industry. Numerous Chinese traders and retailers are expected to be in attendance at Pet Fair Asia Professional, providing exhibitors with a chance to initiate the relationships necessary to sell in China and around the world. On 22 and 23 September all eyes in the international pet product sector will be focused on Shanghai. Taking place in parallel to the show is PETSLink Asia, a one-day symposium looking at the challenges of doing business in Asia, especially in China. This symposium will inform and train international buyers, manufacturers, and professionals who are interested in China’s pet market and will cover marketing information, policy study, logistics, and laws, with a particular focus on sourcing, but also on joint-venture opportunities. To facilitate meetings that will help jump-start business relationships, Pet Fair Asia Professional and PETSLink Asia will offer matchmaking services to those attending the symposium and to pre-registered trade visitors to the exhibition. The service will make it possible to go online and search through the list of exhibitors in order to pre-select those manufacturers with the capabilities that match your needs. Then the organizers will provide an opportunity to meet those exhibitors in private meeting rooms during the trade show. “It is an easy and efficient way for you to search the exhibitors and set up a face-to-face meeting with them,” says Jacky Yu of VNU Exhibitions Asia. “We believe that the matchmaking system is a great way to be introduced to the companies that can supply the products you need, allowing you to focus your efforts and achieve more…