Shanghai hosted a 3 day purchasing fair for an Iraqi business delegation, which links domestic suppliers from all over the country with potentially big buyers in the Middle East Region for the reconstruction of the war-torn country. Our Shanghai correspondent Xiaoyu takes a look.
It's been only half a year since the Iraqi delegation came to Shanghai last time, this time with a much bigger group of over 50 Iraqi entrepreneurs joining this year's fair, which ran from Monday to Wednesday at the Shanghai Mart.
The large amount of products and materials needed for Iraq's reconstruction is undoubtedly a big draw for Chinese businessmen, who flew from all over the country to fill possibly big orders.
male1 "I think the market there has a lot of potential and money is not a problem for them."
Female1 "They are looking for all kinds of products."
The Iraqi delegation's focus covers a wide range, from construction materials and medical equipment to generators and home appliances.
Chinese enterprises say though most of the goods wanted are low or mid-level products with thin profit margins, they are optimistic about future business opportunities in Iraq, saying doing business with Iraqi businesses will be less risky in the near future.
"We're mainly here to seek a longer-term connection with them. We exchanged our business cards and information with each other and when the political situation there becomes better and better, I think the market will be a big one."
With an ever-increasing share of the world's manufacturing capacity, China is a key source of inexpensive goods of the widest range. That's why Iraqi businessmen want to come here more often, according to Tamadhir, president of the Iraqi Business Council who organized the delegation.
"The Iraqi people want to deal with Chinese products because they are of really good quality and are cheaper than products in other parts of the world."
The Iraqi delegates say they wish to establish direct relationships with Chinese suppliers to avoid paying fees to middlemen in the Gulf trading hubs such as Dubai.
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Producer: Han Wei 
