The "4th Xinjiang International Construction Machinery, Building Machinery and Transport Vehicles Expo" and the "4th Xinjiang International Mining Expo" (collectively: Xinjiang Construction Machinery and Mining Expo) will be held from July 22 to 24, 2014, at the Xinjiang International Convention and Exhibition Center in Urumqi. The event is jointly hosted by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Economic and Information Technology Commission, Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Department of Land and Resources, Department of Commerce, Investment Promotion Bureau, Electromechanical Industry Office, and the XPCC Economic Cooperation Office.

  Xinjiang Welcomes Another Development Opportunity

  Renowned Enterprises Gather at the Expo

  Located at the center of the Eurasian continent, Xinjiang is a crucial link of the ancient Silk Road. With President Xi Jinping's strategic vision of building the "New Silk Road Economic Belt," Xinjiang once again focuses the world's attention. In the future, Xinjiang will build a convenient "Air Silk Road" centered on Urumqi International Airport, connecting Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, to improve Urumqi's poor westward transportation. In terms of transportation construction, Xinjiang will invest more than 30 billion yuan.

  In addition, Xinjiang has announced and launched the "Hundreds of Billions Project." From 2013 to the end of 2017, Xinjiang will focus on cultivating 8 industries each exceeding 100 billion yuan, 5 industrial parks each exceeding 100 billion yuan, and about 50 large enterprise groups each exceeding 10 billion yuan, to accelerate the development of advantageous industries, parks, and enterprises, and promote leapfrog economic development in Xinjiang. Equipment manufacturing is among the 8 industries exceeding 100 billion yuan. Construction machinery has a wide range of applications; whether in transportation construction, mineral resource development, road maintenance, or municipal sanitation, various construction machinery products can be seen. The new timing and new opportunities in Xinjiang attract many enterprises to develop in the region.

  Currently, renowned domestic and international enterprises including Sandvik, Sany, Zoomlion, XCMG, Shantui, XGMA, Lovol, MCC Jingcheng, Hongda Blasting, Joy Global, ThyssenKrupp, Takraf Tenova, Wirtgen, and Eirich have registered to participate in the expo, to promote new products and technologies to customers in Xinjiang and Central Asia. As the most effective platform for enterprises to understand the market and promote products, many enterprises are willing to choose exhibitions for publicity and promotion. According to reports, more than 160 enterprises have registered to participate, and it is expected that more than 220 enterprises will participate. In addition, relevant departments from provinces and cities supporting Xinjiang, such as Shandong, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Fujian, have also given strong support to the expo and will organize relevant enterprises under their jurisdiction to participate.

  Business Opportunities Abound in Central Asian Countries

  "Fastest Way" to Enter Local Markets

  Recently, the "Kyrgyz Republic Gold Mine Investment Strategy Seminar" was held in Urumqi, and the organizing committee was invited to attend. At the meeting, Yang Yang, head of the International Audience Organization Department, had an in-depth conversation with Sultanov Sherik, Deputy Director of the Kyrgyz State Agency for Geology and Mineral Resources, and discussed future cooperation. Sultanov Sherik highly affirmed the expo: "In terms of investment environment and mineral resources, Kyrgyzstan is the best among the five Central Asian countries. We hope more Chinese enterprises will develop in Kyrgyzstan. In July, we will organize relevant parties to participate in the expo, communicate face-to-face with relevant enterprises, observe various excellent Chinese equipment on site, and release our country's relevant projects and investment policies."

  "The New Silk Road Economic Belt is another opportunity for leapfrog development for Xinjiang. Xinjiang is once again closely connected with Central Asian countries. Based on this, the expo further strengthens ties with relevant institutions and associations in Central Asian countries, striving to build a bridge for our exhibitors to expand into the Central Asian market," said Liu Kai, project director of the Xinjiang Construction Machinery and Mining Expo, in an interview. "Currently, we have received positive responses from chambers of commerce in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and other countries. At that time, they will organize relevant personnel from their countries to visit and purchase at the expo."

  It is understood that many world-renowned construction machinery manufacturers, including Sandvik, Atlas Copco, XCMG, Sany, Zoomlion, Doosan, and Shacman, have long begun to layout in Xinjiang, either by setting up agencies or building new factories in the region, to meet local demand while expanding into the Central Asian market. Shacman sells more than 3,000 heavy trucks to Central Asia through its Xinjiang company each year, with an output value of more than 2 billion yuan.

  Industry insiders analyze that in terms of geographical advantages, mutual markets, and cultural advantages, Xinjiang and Central Asian countries have favorable factors for regional cooperation, and broad cooperation prospects in energy and mineral resource exploration and development, transportation road construction, infrastructure construction, high-tech fields, and more. Using Xinjiang as a springboard to enter Central Asia is the most convenient and fastest way for enterprises.