More than 1,000 companies are showcasing the latest Chinese innovations in household and home-related products at an ongoing sourcing platform for the Middle East and North Africa region in Dubai.

The China Homelife Dubai 2014 includes furniture and interior decor, textiles and garments, home and personal electronics, lighting, gift items, in addition to building materials, elevators and excavators, said a statement.

Sami Al Qamzi, director general of Dubai Department of Economic Development, officially inaugurated the event today (November 25).

Al Qamzi was joined by Tang Weibin, Consulate General of the China, as well as China Government representatives from Shanghai, Shenzhen and Ninxia as they toured the exhibition halls to meet scores of manufacturers in Dubai to sign new contracts and deals, as the show comes with high determination to further cohere the Chinese trade relations with the region.

The show has surpassed 40 per cent growth in exhibitors’ numbers this year and is expecting more than 10,000 visitors, said the statement.

It has also introduced a highly customised buyers programme this year, through which local and regional buyers were invited to one-to-one meetings with exhibitors, in the aim to support buyers in their search for qualified Chinese suppliers and business negotiations, all while facilitating the purpose of high quality Chinese companies in exploring the Mena region as a new export arena as they look to expand international business operations and source distribution partners.

With a steady 16 per cent annual trade growth, the UAE – China relations have been increasingly developing in scale and significance, having historically been mounted on high-level trade, while the China – Dubai trade constitutes 12 per cent of the emirate’s overall foreign trade, keeping pace with the salient boom in China’s trade, surpassing other economic forces in the volume of foreign trade and placing China on top of Dubai’s trading partners this year.