GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As attendees appreciate, the Canton Fair is constantly working to provide a cutting edge platform for trade. The 116^th installment, which closed in Guangzhou on November 4, was no exception, with organizers innovating on exhibition topics, event promotion, information exchange and other services.

The biannual event attracted 186,104 overseas buyers from more than 200 countries, a decrease of just over 1% compared to the 115^th session. While the total value of export deals concluded at the event was down slightly year-on-year at USD 29.16 billion, the value of transactions with ASEAN countries, South Korea and the Hong Kong SAR all increased.

As ever, the Canton Fair drew positive reviews from a wide range of international buyers.

"You can find everything here," said Javier Salama, a buyer for Suka Home Style, an Argentinian kitchenware wholesaler. "I have attended trade fairs in other countries and struggled to find items, but at the Canton Fair, I always get what I want."

Over 1,300 international chain companies attended the Fair, including 102 out of the world's top 250 retailers in 2013. Amongst them there were five of the top 10 global retailers: Wal-mart, Tesco, Carrefour, Home Depot and Target. A new model to integrate international and national pavilions was well received, with the international pavilion attracting 551 companies from 45 countries and regions. New exhibition sections on energy and pet products were also popular.

With organizers constantly looking to reduce the Canton Fair's environmental footprint, the 116^th session witnessed the full rollout of the event's Green Development Plan. The number of green stands used by exhibitors was up over 15 percent on the previous session at nearly 40,000, while waste planking and pollutants from phases 1 and 2 decreased significantly on the previous session.

The diversity of products on display at the Fair was also unrivalled. Attending the Fair for the first time, Jamaican Kevian Douglas, CEO of Kevi Virgin Hair, was looking for hair extensions and items such as hairdryers and shampoos.

"The choice and quality of Chinese products on sale here is first class," enthused Douglas. "I will definitely come here again."

Fair organizers now look ahead to the 117^th installment of the Canton Fair, set to kick off on April 15, 2015.

For further information please visit: http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en/index.asp

Related Links

http://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en

SOURCE Canton Fair