Officials from Zhejiang Department of Commerce announce the province’s preparations for the first China International Import Expo in Hangzhou on Aug 22. [Photo/cztv.com]

The Zhejiang Department of Commerce has announced that as of Aug 22, 16,460 companies and 30,172 individuals have registered online to attend the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10.

It was introduced that Zhejiang has established two main delegation groups of purchasers from the whole province and its Ningbo city, as well as 13 sub-groups for other cities, State-owned companies and Alibaba Group.

With the help of Zhejiang's private companies and their overseas partners, the province had successfully attracted 480 foreign companies to attend CIIE by the end of June, which will occupy an exhibition area of 19,400 square meters, according to Chen Zhicheng, an official of Zhejiang commerce department.

The CIIE is a first-rate international import expo combining country exhibitions, company exhibitions and forums under various themes. The exhibits showcased at the expo will only include imported goods.

Currently, Zhejiang's main imports from other countries are bulk commodities, raw materials and mechanical and electrical products. Consumer goods only represent a small proportion, but there has been a rapid growth in this sector in recent years.

"Further increasing of imports is important for Zhejiang's opening-up in the new era and we will seize the opportunity brought by CIIE," said Chen.