THE MARKETS

Promoting Exports

China Jiangsu Export Commodities Exhibition 2012 opened in Osaka, western Japan, on May 22, with more than 200 firms from the Chinese coastal province attending the event to promote exports to Japan.

The three-day event, held in MyDome Osaka, a major exhibition hall in central Osaka, is the largest ever launched in Japan, covering an area of 5,000 square meters, with 280 booths on three floors. A wide range of products such as shoes, clothes, home fabrics and daily commodities are on display.

"The number of exhibitors this year almost doubled compared with last year, when many companies in the province withdrew over fear of radiation in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident," said Li Lei, an official of the Jiangsu delegation at a press conference. "We hope the fair will further boost business opportunities between Jiangsu and Osaka."

Mobile Service

China Telecom, the nation's largest fixed-line operator, announced the launch of its mobile phone business in the UK on May 22, making China Telecom the first Chinese mobile virtual network operator to be launched outside the country.

With around-the-clock Chinese and English language customer services, designed to provide information on transport routes and tourism services, the new service, called CTExcelbiz, hopes to attract Chinese residents and visitors to the UK.

"This is the first time that we're selling a product directly on the consumer market, because our past customers were all companies. But we are fully prepared for this challenge," said Ou Yan, Managing Director of China Telecom Europe. "The launch was also linked to the London Olympic Games this summer, when 170,000 Chinese tourists are expected to visit Britain."

If CTExcelbiz proves successful, China Telecom will launch similar services in other European countries, such as France and Germany.