Successful in-person and virtual 2020 edition

 This year marked the last time the fair would be held biennially, as it will switch to an annual event starting in 2021. The strong demand in the Chinese technical textiles and nonwovens market will continue in the years ahead, and many exhibitors and buyers have communicated their preference for an annual event. While the pandemic has undoubtedly had an economic impact, specifically for this market the prospects remain bright, with China’s industrial output growing year-on-year in the 2nd quarter (Q2) of 2020, spending on high-tech infrastructure expected from a stimulus package, and increased emphasis on the government’s new ‘dual circulation’ economic framework strategy of boosting domestic demand while at the same time attracting foreign investment and stabilizing trade. These factors all led to an increase of 16% in the number of visits compared to the 2018 edition, as well as a strong domestic exhibitor participation this year which ensured the size of the fair remained the same as the previous edition. Strong feedback from the international exhibitor brands present also confirmed prospects remain bright in the country. In addition, the new Medical and Protective Zone provided the opportunity for companies to showcase their products and technologies for combating the current and future pandemics. Furthermore, the fair’s new online sourcing platform was widely praised by exhibitors and visitors as an important tool in this time of restricted international travel.