The Linyi Trade City International Sourcing Conference and Shandong Port Supply Chain Comprehensive Service Promotion Conference, which was held from Nov 24 to 26 in Linyi, Shandong province, gathered over 600 merchants from more than 60 countries and regions.

Forty-four tentative deals worth a record-high 2.22 billion yuan ($312.21 million) were signed during the event. The Oman economic and trade delegation, which was participating in the conference for the first time, signed the largest strategic procurement cooperation agreement worth 600 million yuan at the event.

"We got 33 entrepreneurs to attend the event. The Oman SME Development Authority is willing to further cooperate with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Linyi Council to promote such fruitful exhibitions in Oman in the future," said an official from the Authority of Small and Medium Enterprises Development of Oman.

"We found that the products here are very much in line with our requirements, especially the rich variety of products such as foot mats, and we have established contact with local merchants," said Eagleton Michael John, a buyer from Australia.

During the event, Shandong Port Group inaugurated its Linyi representative office, which will help Linyi commodities go abroad.

Linyi is an important logistics and trade wholesale center in northern China. There are 123 professional wholesale markets, 38 logistics parks, and 44 e-commerce parks in the city that offer more than 60,000 varieties of commodities that are sold around the world.

Market procurement trade has been growing rapidly in Linyi, increasing from 144 million yuan in 2016 to 67.62 billion yuan in 2022.

A foreign buyer talks with a commercial tenant in Linyi. [Photo/Iqilu News]

Foreign buyers browse products at a wholesale market in Linyi. [Photo/Linyi Daily]

Participants take a selfie at the Linyi international sourcing conference. [Photo/Linyi Daily]