The Shanghai International Industry Fair (SIF), the only State-level large-scale industry fair in China featuring high-tech equipment as the principal for transactions and exhibition, has been scheduled to stage its sixth session November 4-9.

Started in 1999, the fair has grown into a world-famous event which attracts a significantly increasing number of participants from home and abroad, said Jiao Yang, the city spokeswoman.

The total exhibition area of 80,500 square meters will house 3,359 booths this year, 37.6 percent of which will be occupied by domestic enterprises from outside Shanghai and 26.76 percent by foreign participants.

Eight overseas industrial associations, commercial chambers and agents from Europe, India and Japan will send delegations to attend the fair.

The fair is expected to draw an audience of 100,000 professionals from overseas according to Chen Xianjin, a top executive from Shanghai World Expo (Group) Co, Ltd. which has been nominated to be the operator of the event, to gain experience for the upcoming World Expo to be held in Shanghai in 2010.

Arranged for the first time according to different industries, the fair will include seven exhibitions on information technology equipment, electric power and control techniques, automobiles, digital manufacturing, an environmental protection equipment new material show and a technological innovative exhibition.

The Exhibition on China's Significant Achievements in Engineering will stage achievements of significant engineering projects such as Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the Three-Gorges Dam and the National Grid.

To echo the theme of the fair, the SIF Forum will be held from November to December, focusing on "Information & Industrialization" and will include 11 professional symposiums and five subject seminars.

(China Daily October 28, 2004)