The 13th China International Pet Show (CIPS), held Nov. 16 to 19, 2009, in Guangzhou, China, drew a record number of attendees, according to organizers.

The China Great Wall International Exhibition Co. and Nurnberg Global Fairs, which co-organized the event, reported that 590 exhibitors from 30 countries and about 27,000 visitors attended the show in 2009, compared to 472 exhibitors and about 25,000 visitors in 2008.

The 2009 show featured products for cats, dogs, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, and ponds. New to the show was a lounge for international visitors and a special display area for fish. The new fish exhibition attracted a lot of interest, especially from overseas buyers, according to Cheng Yang, president of the China Great Wall International Exhibition Co. As a result, organizers have decided to increase the fish exhibition space in 2010.

The China Pet Accessory and Food Association (PAFA), a professional pet trade association, was founded during a special ceremony at the show. The new national body aims to foster international exchange in the pet industry and act as a bridge between the Chinese government and enterprises.

On the educational front, CIPS 2009 featured seminars for both visitors and exhibitors. Among them was a half-day seminar for international visitors that included information on China’s import and export regulations, Asian business culture and product safety regulations, as well as tours of two pet accessory manufacturers.

CIPS 2010 is scheduled for Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in Beijing. Click here for more information. <HOME>