Exhibits on display. Peng Juan / China Daily

"The fund aims to help enterprises invest in the marine economy and agricultural logistics in countries along the Maritime Silk Road," they said.

In addition, the fair saw increased investment flowing to modernizing traditional pillar industries such as heavy equipment, metallurgy, construction materials and textiles.

Other deals concluded at the fair include a large commercial complex worth 11 billion yuan in Cangshan district.

The Taiwan Pavilion remained a highlight at the fair this year. A total of 121 producers from across the Straits attended, bringing in more than 1,000 kinds of local food and snacks from Taiwan such as "bouncy beef balls" and pineapple cake.

"The Taiwan Pavilion has been one of the most popular sites at the fair since 2009, and local people often walk out of the pavilion with bags full of purchased goods," said Zhang Qiu, head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade's Fujian sub-council, an organizer of the annual event.

Covering 11,000 square meters, the Taiwan Pavilion sponsored by the Taiwan Foreign Trade Bureau has 550 exhibition booths this year. Visitors can have access to various Taiwan local food and appreciate folk dance performances, while fair organizers also set up a photograph section that attracted many visitors.

Wang Ximeng, a representative from the Taiwan Foreign Trade Bureau, said that the bureau has participated in the fair for five consecutive years, building an important bridge for Taiwan's food suppliers to expand their market.

"Taiwan's food exports to the Chinese mainland reached $637 million in 2013, more than quadruple that of five years ago," Wang said.

The fair has grown from a platform to a brand for Taiwan producers and helps boost cross-Straits interaction, trade expansion, investment and industrial cooperation, said Wang, adding that the event would aid the development of local convention and exhibition industry.

Contact the writers at humeidong@chinadaily.com.cn and yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn