Anna Zhao

    anna.whizh@yahoo.com

    BEAUTY products from Iran are constantly attracting visitors at the 15th China Hi-Tech Fair, where crowds of people lingered Monday at the exhibits for consultations and purchases.

    “We’ve received more than 200 visitors each day with inquiries about our biotech products,” said Mahdi Hafez, a manager with Iranian Hi-tech Export Development Co., which is helping Iranian companies seek Chinese partners at this year’s fair. “The fair has gone far beyond our expectations, for I thought few people would be interested in our products.”

    The Iranian exhibits are in the area for overseas exhibitors in Hall 1 of the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District, where this year’s fair continues through tomorrow.

    Hafez said the beauty products are made from natural herbs grown exclusively in Iran because of strict climate requirements and are completely natural, organic and edible since they are free of chemicals. He said all of their bioproducts, including biofertilizers, have acquired international certification.

    Six Iranian exhibitors are attending this year’s fair, following last year’s success by Iranian companies attending for the first time. The exhibitors also have brought their latest nanotechnology and electronics products to the fair.

    The exhibitors said they hoped to find Chinese partners for their biotech products and jointly develop them by setting up production lines in China.

    “The world is looking for herbal products and we’re able to provide good raw materials so we want to enter the world market,” Hafez said. “China is a unified market with great potential and, most important of all, it is an expert in mass production. There will be great opportunities by combining our unique raw materials and technology with the manufacturing and marketing abilities of Chinese partners.”

    He said Iran, with an economy that’s heavily reliant on oil exports, wants to make a change by supporting technology-based industries with greater investments.

    Hafez said the growing concentration of high-tech industries in Shenzhen will make it more convenient for Iranian companies to cooperate on technological levels.

    “We want a win-win situation for both sides, rather than taking advantage of China’s labor force,” he said.

    His delegation is negotiating with a high-tech park in Nanshan District to set up a base to introduce Iranian technologies to China.

    He said organizers of this year’s high-tech fair have done great marketing to introduce visitors to foreign exhibitors.

    “We (even) received inquiries before the fair. It’s the best exposition I’ve ever attended, with a good marketing plan and good service,” the Iranian said.