Kathmandu, July 26:

A four day long China Trade Fair 2006 is being organised from September 7 to 10 this year in Kathmandu with a view to promote Chinese products as well as attract investment to Nepal.

The second edition of CTF-2006 is being jointly organised by Nepal China Executive Council (NCEC) and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Machinery Sub-Council, while Nepal Foreign Trade Association is the co-organiser of the event. “Chinese participants and exhibitors were overwhelmed with the huge success of the first CTF 2005, and we decided to make it an annual event,” said Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, president of NCEC. More Chinese participants and entrepreneurs are expected to take part in the event this year.

He informed that the branded Chinese products would be showcased as well as exhibitors will have the opportunity to explore Nepali and South Asian markets and make contacts with potential business partners. “We plan to set up a separate lobby for potential investors, where both Nepali and Chinese entrepreneurs can interact and explore new investment avenues,” Bhattarai added.

According to event coordinator C N Upadhaya, about 120 exhibitors will showcase their products, services and consultancies at the event. The products to be showcased in the event will include automobiles (both two and four wheelers), furniture, home appliances, consumer electronics and electrical goods, mobile phones, industrial raw materials, medicine and health products, garments, construction materials and agriculture tools and various tourism products and services.

A group of Chinese investors who are interested in making investment in hydropower, manufacturing and tourism business will also be attending the event, said Upadhaya. The fair will be held at Birendra International Convention Centre.

“In the long term, CTF will be developed as a gala event to showcase products and services as well as to highlight rapid economic developments taking place in China,” said Bhattarai, adding that it would provide platform for Chinese investors keen to make their presence felt in the international arena.

“More and more Chinese investors are gearing up to go abroad with ‘Go Global’ policy,” he said.

The event is supported by Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, FNCCI, NCC, Nepal Airlines Corporation. The official media partners are The Himalayan Times, Annapurna Post and HBC FM-94.