At a press conference on Thursday, Zhang Yongwu, Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, announced that this year’s WCIFIT will be held under the theme “New Western China, New Manufacturing, New Services.” The event will focus on cultivating new, quality, productive forces and promoting high-quality development.
Thailand will participate as the Guest Country of Honor, Sichuan Province as the Permanent Guest Province, and the newly designated Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the Guest City of Honor.
The fair will feature an array of exhibitions and themed events. It will span nine halls across 110,000 square meters, showcasing areas dedicated to regional image displays, international and regional cooperation, and modern industrial development. An online exhibition platform will also be available to extend the event’s reach.
A total of 29 events are scheduled, including sessions focused on productive services for modern industries, foreign investment promotion, international economic and trade cooperation, government affairs, guest-of-honor activities, and other supporting programs.
As of now, 972 companies from 39 countries and regions, along with participants from over 20 domestic provinces and cities, have registered to attend the fair. Notably, more than half of the exhibitors are from outside Chongqing.
This year’s WCIFIT will emphasize deepening international and regional exchanges. Building on the momentum of the past six editions, which attracted over 20,000 enterprises and nearly 100,000 business visitors, the fair continues to serve as a platform for Belt and Road cooperation and regional collaboration.
Another priority is promoting industrial integration, with a particular focus on modern productive services. The event aligns with Chongqing’s “33618” modern manufacturing cluster system and will feature joint activities organized with leading business associations and centrally administered state-owned enterprises.
WCIFIT also aims to drive investment and trade by hosting foreign investment promotion, international trade, and consumption-themed events. The goal is to encourage exhibitors to become long-term investors and trade partners, helping local products expand into global markets and promoting seamless domestic and international trade integration through new consumption models driven by exhibitions.
In addition, the fair will showcase global brands, offering visitors a one-stop experience to explore a wide range of international consumer goods.