Wenzhou highlights light industries
( 2003-10-13 10:11) (China Daily)
The 2003 China International Light Industrial Products (Wenzhou) Fair attracted over 600 exhibitors and thousands of visitors from home and abroad yesterday. This is part of the government's efforts to build Wenzhou into an "international light industry city."
The city in East China's Zhejiang Province has been growing into a major manufacturing base in China, with light industry accounting for two-thirds of the city's industrial output.
Last year, light industrial output topped over 100 billion yuan (US$12 billion), with the shoe and garment sectors contributing 31.8 billion and 30.2 billion yuan respectively. Its lighters, glasses, razors, locks and plastic products occupy over 50 per cent of the national market, with some even enjoying a market share as high as 90 per cent. Seventy per cent of the lighters sold around the world are made in Wenzhou.
"A solid foundation has been laid," said Chen Shineng, chairman of the China Federation of Light Industry at the opening ceremony. "Now it's time to have a broader vision and sharpen our competitive edge in the global market."
According to Mayor Chen Qi, Wenzhou's light industry should be in line with international standards and trends, making the city a major manufacturing and exporting base for the industry.
The four-day fair, with local exhibitors accounting for 80 per cent of those attending, is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors, including about 1,300 from overseas. Major buyers such as General Electric, Carrefour, and Puresmart come to the fair to seek co-operation and investment opportunities in Wenzhou, according to the organizer.
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