A number of companies that have pledged massive investments in Zhanjiang, such as German chemical giant BASF, which plans to invest $10 billion in a fine chemical project, are participating in the upcoming China Marine Economy Expo (CMEE) in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province.

Overseas Chinese Town Group, which plans to invest 50 billion yuan ($7.2 billion) in tourism facilities in Zhanjiang, and Fantawild Holdings Inc, which will invest 3 billion yuan in a theme park in the city, will also stage booths at the expo, said Mao Cheng, a deputy chief of the Guangdong Provincial Culture and Tourism Department.

China Merchants Group, which signed a comprehensive strategic cooperative agreement with Zhanjiang municipal government last year and is committed to developing an international cruise port in the city, serves as one of the co-organizers of the expo. It will showcase its major business units and organize some of the forums during the expo, said Han Dong, the South China general manager of China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co.

Most of the projects highlighted in the strategic cooperative agreement reached between China Shipbuilding Industry Co and Guangdong provincial government in April this year are located in Zhanjiang, said Zhang Mingqian, director of the reform office of the corporation, which is one of the co-organizing parties of the expo.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Guangdong provincial government, CMEE will be held in the port city from November 22 to 25.

According to Ou Xianwei, vice mayor of Zhanjiang, exhibitors at the expo will also include China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China Communications Construction Co and China General Nuclear Power Corp.

More than 60 vessels of various kinds will be on show during the expo. Chinese navy ship open days are also being arranged.

The German-Chinese Business Association, the Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry are joining the expo, with exhibitors, buyers and professionals from 54 countries having registered for the expo, Ou said.

The Information Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province holds a press conference on the upcoming CMEE on Oct 26. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]