Overseas deals worth tens of billions of dollars were inked during the Third Central China Investment & Trade Exposition, or 2008 Central China Expo, which closed yesterday in this capital city of Hubei province.

The six provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Shanxi, Jiangxi and Anhui attracted total foreign direct investment of $16.17 billion, with Hubei grabbing $8.31 billion, Hubei Vice-Governor Tian Chengzhong said.

The six provinces clinched export deals worth $1.48 billion, including $1.45 billion for Hubei, Tian said.

Hubei also signed 26 contracts for projects abroad worth 3.42 billion yuan, he added.

During the three-day annual fair, the Ministry of Commerce marked an additional 11 cities in Central China, such as Xiangfan and Yichang in Hubei, as key spots to receive processing trade industries being shifted from the booming eastern region. Previously, there were nine central cities of this kind.

"The exposition will be a boost for the rise of Central China with the joint effort of the six provinces," Tian said.

The government unveiled the strategy of "The Rise of Central China" in 2004, following incentive policies for the West and Northeast, in a bid to promote coordinated development between different regions.

The six provinces have a combined population of 361 million and a land area of 1.03 million sq km.

The exposition in Wuhan attracted 328 out of the world's top 500 multinational companies, with 39 global executives attending the event.

(China Daily April 29, 2008)