On April 15^th, 2009, the 105^th China Import & Export Fair (Canton Fair) was opened in Pazhou Complex in Guangzhou, Guangdong. This year, Canton Fair will last from April 15^th to May 7^th and separate to three phases. The fair set up 55 thousand stands, 265 more than the 104^th Fair and the exhibition area reached 1.125 million square meters. Totally 395 enterprises from 36 countries and districts attended the exhibition. The Fair sent invitation to 800 thousand overseas purchasers, including emerging market in Middle East, Middle Europe, Africa, India and South America beside purchasers on traditional target market in Europe, America and Japan. 

Although the current economic situation was not so positive due to the financial crisis, the forklift exhibitors showed their confidence. Domestic forklift manufactures and parts manufacturers took part in the Fair, including Dalian Forklift, Tailift, Maximal, JAC, Yituo, Jingjiang, Goodsense, Anhui Hecha, Shangli, Zheli, Huahe, Zhejiang Heli, Kipor, Taian Tide, Wecan, Eagleman, Noblelift, Ruyi, Hu-lift, E-P, Niuli, Dingli, Weishihai, Hubei Jinmao, Hangzhou Haitian and Zhejiang Hanmu, Yuchai, Changchai, Weichai, Qianjin Gear and so on.

From October to December in 2008, the export trade experienced the most difficult time. However, as the first quarter of 2009 passed, there was data indicating that foreign trade had the sign to turn good. The latest data provided by the Customs demonstrated that, in March, the decreasing rate of foreign trade value, export and import respectively reduced 6.3, 4 and 9.1 percentage. According to the indicators of average working level of the calculation of comparable caliber than the ring, the total value of import and export increased 23.8% in March and the Customs pointed that our foreign trade went well.

On the opening press conference, managers of the Fair told the media that they would invite some famous domestic stores, chain supermarkets and wholesaler to meet with the exhibited enterprise on the Fair. This was the first time in China.

“We have noted the enterprises with intention of doing domestic sales, telling them to deploy their products on the exhibition stand and arrange the responsible staff to negotiate on the Fair.” Wen Zhongliang, Director of Ministry of Commerce of PRC Department of Foreign Trade said, “Such pilots were still not in large scope, and we just choose one day during the 2^nd and 3^rd phases to have a try.”

This means that Canton Fair as the main channel of foreign trade is active to pursue transform when facing with global financial crisis through strengthening the functions of exhibition to exert advantages and improve service level.