GUANGZHOU, Oct. 22 (China Economic Net) - Pakistani enterprises specializing in kitchenware, sports goods and home textiles are showcasing their products at the 140th China Import and Export Fair, as the landmark trade event celebrates its 70th anniversary. The Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou, in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, has organized the participation of 18 Pakistani exhibitors across Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the fair.

The Canton Fair, founded in the spring of 1957, is held twice a year in Guangzhou and co-hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, with the China Foreign Trade Centre as organizer. The current autumn session runs from October 15 to November 4 in three phases. Over seven decades, the fair has grown from 9,600 square meters and 1,200 buyers in its inaugural edition to 1.55 million square meters and more than 300,000 buyers today.

More than 700 delegates from nearly 90 countries and regions attended the opening ceremony. Muhammad Imran, Pakistan’s Trade and Investment Counsellor in Guangzhou, attended the event and described the Canton Fair as a vital platform for Pakistani exporters. He noted the huge foot traffic at the venue and said exhibitors would be kept busy throughout the fair.

Pakistan’s participation comes as its key export sectors show mixed but promising momentum. Sports goods exports rose 12.99% to $319 million during July–March of fiscal year 2025-26, with football exports climbing 17.81% to $197 million. Home textiles remain a cornerstone of Pakistan’s export basket, with bed wear and towels among the country’s top industrial exports. Kitchenware, particularly aluminum cookware, represents an established manufacturing segment with an export presence.

The 140th Canton Fair features more than 32,000 exhibitors and expects approximately 340,000 overseas buyers. In addition to exhibitors and buyers, Pakistan is represented by delegations including the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which entered into its first partnership with the Canton Fair at the event’s Global Partners Signing Ceremony.