Iraqi businessman Karmil, who has operated a foreign trade company in Yiwu for 14 years, talks about his preparation for the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) during an interview in Yiwu on Sept 3. [Photo/WeChat account: Yiwu_shangbao]

Trade firms in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang province are busy preparing for the third China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is slated to take place in Shanghai from Nov 5-10.

The business exhibition area of the third CIIE is expected to occupy an area of 360,000 square meters and will be divided into six sections displaying food and agricultural products, automobiles, intelligent industry and information technology, consumer goods, medical equipment and healthcare products, and trade in services.

Four special subsections dedicated to public health and anti-epidemic products and services, smart transportation, energy conservation, and sporting goods will also be set up during the event.

"This is the third time that our company has taken part in the CIIE," said Zhang Xuefeng, the general agent in China for Mootaa, a household cleaning supplies brand based in Portugal.

Zhang said his company was busy designing their exhibition booths for the upcoming CIIE. According to Zhang, their exhibition area will be even larger than last year and will feature more diversified products.

Boyu Exhibition and Convention Service Company in Yiwu is a partner organization of the CIIE Bureau helping to attract overseas buyers. The company has managed to help more than 600 foreign buyers register for the third CIIE, surpassing last year's figure.

Karmil, a businessman from Iraq, has operated a foreign trade company in Yiwu for 14 years. His company took part in the expo the last two years and signed several deals with exhibitors. He said that they will also attend this year's event.

According to the Yiwu commerce bureau, to date nearly 1,000 representatives from 41 companies in the city have registered for the third CIIE, and that number continues to rise.

Starting from June 24, professional visitors from home and abroad can register on the CIIE website, which provides both Chinese and English language services.

Professional visitors, including buyers, industry insiders and experts from enterprises, government institutions, and social organizations, are all welcome to register.

The third CIIE has optimized its registration services in order to attract more professional visitors, including creating an invitation code-free channel and strengthening the protection of personal information.