THE four-day 6th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) that ended yesterday tapped 108.86 billion yuan (US$16 billion), a 23.6-percent increase over last year's fair, a press conference was told yesterday.
Overseas buyers and investors signed deals worth 11.4 billion yuan, up 30.12 percent over last year. Innovative industry and the cartoon and animation industry facilitated deals worth 11 billion yuan and 7.69 billion yuan respectively, ICIF spokesman Yin Changlong told the meeting.
More than 3.67 million people visited the main venue at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center and 35 subvenues across the city, while nearly 1,800 organizations from over 200 countries and regions attended the annual State-level fair with 10,680 overseas buyers, Yin said.
The largest cultural event in China had showcased around 100,000 varieties of merchandise, an increase of 20 percent compared with last year.
Many foreign buyers and visitors were attracted to cartoon and animation products and intangible cultural heritage.
A cultural fund was set up by the Central Government during the ICIF as a strategic move to boost the development of cultural companies, particularly of small and medium-sized ones that are more likely to have capital problems, said Wang Jingsheng, head of the Publicity Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC.
Another highlight of the ICIF was its interaction with the World Expo in Shanghai. To enhance the ICIF's influence and popularity, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), one of the organizers of both events, initiated a tour for foreign expo delegations to experience China's largest cultural fair in Shenzhen.
The ICIF had become increasingly attractive to foreign companies and businessmen, said Feng Yaoxiang, a senior official with CCPIT.
The 6th ICIF also had provided high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen an ideal platform to demonstrate their strength, Wang said. The Shenzhen Cultural Property Exchange alone signed agreements worth 5.93 billion yuan
"Among good examples are the Shenzhen Huaqiang Media and Cultural Investment Co., Tencent Inc. and A8 Music Group. They have perfectly combined culture and technology in their products."
Source:Shenzhen Daily