19th CIFIT lures investment from home and abroad

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2015-08-13

Organizers for the 19th China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT) held a press conference in Beijing on August 12. The fair is to kick off in Xiamen, Fujian province on Sept 8.

To adapt to new trends in global economy, the fair will focus on innovation and efficiency improvement in the business circle. It will also help discover new business horizons to boost investment and economic growth worldwide.

The fair will offer the participants the opportunity of joining in China's Belt and Road Initiative by organizing themed seminars and match making activities.

More than 20 Silk Road countries, including Bahrain, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, have been invited to attend the fair. A cross-Straits Belt and Road cooperation and exchange event is also scheduled to help Taiwan enterprises to get involved in the strategy.

The first session of China-New Zealand Mayors Forum will also be held during the CIFIT. The two countries each will send 14 mayors to attend the forum.

Heads from China's four free trade zones of Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian will also participate in the fair. They hope to develop firmer links with overseas Chinese businessmen as well as cooperate with Taiwan entities to tap potentials in the E-commerce industry.

The organizer has issued invitations to International Finance Corporation, International Fund for Agriculture Development, European Investment Bank and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will also participate in the fair.

The fair will also feature finance-related events, including an international financing exhibition, a crowd-funding exhibition, an Asian investment fund forum, a merger and acquisition forum and a forum on investment in high-tech, high-growth companies, namely the businesses listed on China's new stock share transfer market – the Third Board.

Internet technology and E-commerce solutions will also be a highlight of the fair.

Prominent personalities like Ma Yun, chairman of Alibaba Group has confirmed to attend the fair and deliver speeches. At many related seminars, participants will talk about how to use the "virtual freeway" to efficiently allocate capital and other resources across the world.

Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, crown prince and first deputy prime minister of Bahrain and Li Yong, director-general at United Nations Industrial Development Organization both will give speeches during the fair.

The German delegation will share their country's Industry 4.0 strategy to develop high-tech industry with their dozens of counterpart countries and regions.

And a roundtable leadership meeting will see gathering of business bigwigs from across the world.