HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi opens China homelife Dubai; 50,000 Chinese products on display

Textile industry shines as Chinese exporters target partners from the region

Dubai, UAE, 3 December 2013 – Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Development and International Cooperation, has officially inaugurated the Middle East region's largest exhibition of Chinese home products today.

Sheikha Lubna was joined by Mr Tang Weibin, Consulate General of the People's Republic of China, as well as Ms Zhang Yi, Commercial Counselor of the Economic and Commerce Department, and Mr Zhang Xijin, Chief Representative of the CCPIT in the Gulf region, as they toured the exhibition halls to meet scores of manufacturers in Dubai to sign new contracts and deals. 

Tang Weibin said, “It is an honour for us to see such an impressive turn out of trade representatives from China here in the UAE.  Dubai is a vibrant, exciting city which is enjoying the great benefits of its recent Expo 2020 bid win and exhibitions such as China Home Life provide us with an excellent platform upon which to conduct business.”

Visitors to China Homelife Dubai, running until Thursday 5 December at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, will see more than 50,000 products on offer from more than 1,000 Chinese manufacturers, all of which are available for Middle East buyers to purchase for commercial trade. 

The GCC is the second-largest trade partner to China and the Middle East is the world's largest market for Chinese-made product exports; the exhibition has seen a 60% increase in exhibitor numbers and a 150% increase in exhibition space year on year.

Leading the charge at the event are suppliers from China's biggest names in the garments and textiles industry.  The largest presentation of Chinese textiles to date anywhere in the world, the display will span two pavilions and is set to attract investment from regional distributors.

Gavil Fang, Chief Executive Officer at MEOrient International, the organisers of the exhibition, said: “Now in its fourth year, China Homelife has become the most significant event of its kind to allow Chinese exporters in the textile industry reach key volume buyers in the Middle East. 

“Industry analysts have projected the global fabrics and textile market to near US$2billion by 2015 and all signs indicate China will play an integral role in growing the sector. This is an important time to address how we can better engage with potential partners and customers in the Middle East.  There is a great deal of expectation and optimism among our exhibitors who are providing products not currently available here.”

In 2012, the value of trade between China and the UAE surpassed $35billion for the first time, while 60 per cent of China's total trade passes through the UAE, before it is re-exported West to Africa and Europe. 

Potential buyers can expect a wide choice of offerings as floor space has grown to accommodate more than 1,000 exhibitors across a range of home products.  Highlight pieces include unique furniture, home appliances, kitchens and bathrooms, garden and leisure products and lights and lamps.

The exhibition is hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information, and is organised by the Department of Commerce of Jiangxi Province, Ningbo Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, the Hangzhou Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, Qingdao Bureau of Commerce and Wenzhou Bureau of Commerce.