Each province looks to stand out at the fair by highlighting its own advantages, as Sun Li and Zhang Haizhou report.

An iconic event on promoting investment opportunities with China, the 17th China International Fair for Investment and Trade provides a platform for the country's different provinces to showcase their individual strengths and areas of expertise.

As the host province of CIFIT, Fujian is looking to attract investments in its advanced manufacturing industries, as well as emerging sectors such as the biological and medical industries, and modern services, including logistics, commerce and finance, according to Chen Qi, deputy director of the managing division of the Fujian provincial department of foreign trade and economic cooperation.

"Venture capitalists are increasingly interested in emerging industries. There are lots of mergers and acquisitions in emerging sectors," Chen said.

"So this year the province plans to facilitate talks with leading foreign companies in these industries."

Yet while attaching greater importance to emerging industries, the province will not neglect its pillar industries, namely, electronic information, machinery equipment and petrochemical, Chen said.

The province is set to sign contracts for at least 235 projects, with foreign investment totaling $5.87 billion.

Phone calls and e-mails indicating investment interest have already reached the Hubei provincial delegation, which Tan Zuogang, deputy director of the Hubei provincial department of commerce, said is because they have been promoting the geographical advantage of the province.

The central part of China can serve as a springboard inland for investors, and Hubei is the center of central China, said Tan.

As upgrading and enhancing the agricultural industry is high on the provincial government' agenda, Tan and his team are highlighting modern agriculture at this year's fair, while also promoting investment in the province's leading industries, such as automobile manufacturing and steel making.

Agriculture has also been highlighted by Heilongjiang province, which in addition to its backbone industries such as petrochemicals, equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and forestry, is highlighting its green food industry at the fair.

"The fertile black earth, the high mechanization level of its agriculture, and the low pest damage due to the cold weather in northeastern China means Heilongjiang has outperformed other provinces in developing a green food industry," said Li Chuansheng, an official with Heilongjiang province's department of commerce.

Since every province has a presence, they all have to have something special that no one else has to attract investment, said Li, who has been a regular participant at the annual event.

"Russia, a long-time investor has been talking with us about signing contracts. This year, we hope to expand our overseas market to more countries," Li said.

Li Chengjin, management committee director of Deyang Economic and Technological Development Area, in southwest China's Sichuan province, is looking to showcase the development area's achievements and attract foreign investors into its leading industries, which include equipment manufacturing, new materials and new energy, environmental protection, IT, and biomedicine.

Li said the DETDA had already signed a strategic cooperation deal with AmCham South China at the CIFIT.

"We are looking forward to a visit by AmCham South China President Harley Seyedin after the fair and will hopefully attract American investors."

Contact the writers at [email protected] and [email protected]

(China Daily 09/09/2013 page20)