International exhibition operators are keener than ever on the participation of China's enterprises and buyers.

Among them is Italy-based Fiera Milano International SpA (FMI), which traveled all the way to Guangzhou last week to promote its coming exhibitions, hoping to secure a maximum number of Chinese exhibitors and professional buyers.

FMI, a joint venture between Fiera Milano Exhibitions and UK-based Reed Exhibitions - both exhibition giants - is one of the largest exhibition organizers in the world.

FMI organizes 17 trade shows annually in Italy, most of which are devoted to consumer and capital equipment goods.

And Macef, the international home show held twice annually in January and September, is among the most important FMI trade shows as well as among the top events in Europe.

Macef, dedicated to table, kitchen and silverware, home decoration and textile, gift, ceremony and stationery, celebrations, jewelry and fashion accessories, is aimed primarily at wholesalers, buyers, mass distributors and retailers, architects, interior designers and interior decorators.

"China's manufacturing industry has witnessed rapid development, and many of China's light industrial products including glassware, toys, gifts, tableware, jewelry, lighting products and furniture sectors enjoy great popularity among Italian consumers," said Francesco Milone, FMI's chairman.

Guangdong Province, and its Pearl River Delta region in particular, supplies a very large percentage of such products to the world market, he said, adding that FMI is very interested in possible co-operative ties with the enterprises here including foreign-invested ones.

He said that FMI's trade fairs will play their role as a crucial cross-way into Italian and European markets among Chinese manufacturers.

And he said that he is fully confident of sustained growth among both exhibitors and professional buyers from China, basing his confidence on the popularity in Italy of Chinese-made products and the brisk import and export business between the trading partners.

Chinese exhibitors make up a very significant share of FMI's foreign exhibitors' attendance, he said.

Of the 841 foreign exhibitors present at the September session of Macef last year, 124 were from China (excluding those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan).

And more than 4,000 Chinese professional buyers visit FMI's fairs in Milan annually.

He said that Chinese manufacturers will be able to draw actual benefits from the "window on the west" provided by major business shows, which are ideal opportunities to promote new technologies - an area in which Chinese manufacturers display greater and greater skills.

Editor: Olivia