International tech fair growing rapidly

The seventh China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair will have nearly a thousand exhibitors and is expected to have more than 520,000 visitors from home and abroad.

After six years, the CSITF has become an important platform for exhibiting leading international technologies, linking professional innovation resources, and promoting communication and cooperation of small and medium-sized innovation enterprises, said Shang Yuying, head of the city's Commission of Commerce as well as Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Government.

The Ministry of Commerce says that from 2012 to 2018 the registered contract value of technology imports and exports in the city rose from about US$4.9 billion to about US$14 billion, an increase of 184.7 percent. 

Last year, Shanghai led the country in the registered value of technology import and export contracts.

This fair, to be held from April 18 to April 20 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, will focus on areas including artificial intelligence and life sciences, and organize a series of activities such as trade matchmaking and technology communication.

Fujian Province will be the domestic guest of the fair. Germany's Saarland state of and the UK's Liverpool city are the overseas guest of honor, and will hold activities including high-level meetings, exhibitions, project docking and technology exchanges during the fair. 

The CSITF this year will cover 350,000 square meters, with five major exhibition areas: honorary guest city (state), technological innovation, specialized technologies, innovative ecosystems and trade services.

The overseas exhibition area will cover 2,600 square meters, and about 100 enterprises and research institutions from the United States, Canada, Hungary, Germany, South Korea and other countries and regions will participate in the exhibition, an increase of 30 percent from last year.

Among them, Hungary's Morgan Star Group will participate in the fair for the fourth consecutive session, to show its advanced technology in medical treatment and health care; Germany's Rudolf will exhibit its textile antibacterial technology; and South Korea's Chungcheong-bukdo will show its renewable energy technology.

The United States and Canada are both taking part for their first time as the North American Exhibition Group, focusing on advanced technologies in the fields of AI and intelligent health care.