HONG KONG, October 16, 2006 – Global Sources' (NASDAQ-GS: GSOL) China Sourcing Fairs: Electronics & Components and Fashion Accessories attracted 47,387 buyers from 157 countries and territories – an increase of 27 percent from spring. The sourcing trade shows were held at Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo Oct. 11 through 14.

Global Sources Chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, said: “Last week's two China Sourcing Fairs were a spectacular success. Buyer traffic was up more than 27 percent, while business activity on the show floor was exceptional.

"The active participation of big-name retailers and importers, increased buyer attendance and strong growth in the number of booths demonstrate the value that the China Sourcing Fairs offer buyers and suppliers."

World's Biggest Buyers Attend Electronics & Components Fair

Many of the biggest names in the retail and manufacturing industries participated in the Electronics & Components Fair.

Buying representatives from 3M, BenQ, Best Buy, Black & Decker, Canon, Carrefour, Clipsal, Li & Fung, Philips, Fujitsu, Hyundai, Freescale, Kmart, LG Electronics, Samsung, SANYO, Salisbury’s, Target, Monster Cable, Kesa Electricals, Staples, Tchibo, Halfords, NEC, ThreeSixty Sourcing, Decathlon and Brookstone attended the China Sourcing Fair: Electronics & Components.

One buyer, MEC Security Supplies Managing Director, Joe Maurel, said: "Suppliers that I've been looking at through Global Sources happen to be exhibiting here, so I've been able to meet them. They’re new suppliers. And I've also been able to make contact with suppliers I didn't know existed."

Another buyer, Staples Business Team Manager of Technology, Jeffrey Jiang, said: "The Fairs seem to be built with buyer convenience in mind. Of note are the great venue and excellent buyer services, like the Vendor Summits, free buyers' lounges, new product galleries and seminars."

One supplier, Apollo Worldwide Corporate Marketing Manager, Evon Chow, said: "We've consistently met quality buyers at the China Sourcing Fairs. We've already booked larger booths for the spring and fall Fairs next year!"

Fashion Accessories Fair Attracts Top Industry Buyers

Among buyers who attended the China Sourcing Fair: Fashion Accessories were some of the biggest names serving the accessories sector.

Fashion Accessories attendees included Bossini, Decathlon, Organtex, Carrefour, Gap Inc., Coles Myer, Cartier, LVMH Asia Pacific, K-Swiss, GUESS, FX Creations, Diane Freis, Reebok, Sears, Target Sourcing, Tesco and Toppy.

Largest-ever China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products Opens Thursday

China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products will be held Oct. 19-22 at AsiaWorld-Expo. Occupying all 10 halls of the venue, the 4,000 booths show will feature more than 1,400 exhibitors from mainland China.

Also set to exhibit are suppliers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, the United States and France.

Product pavilions at the Fair are: Gifts, Premiums & Toys; Christmas & Holiday; Stationery & Paper Products; Health & Beauty; Sporting & Leisure; Home Décor; Home Textiles; Kitchen & Household Products; Glassware & Tableware; Garden & Outdoor; Ceramics & Porcelain; Baby & Children’s Products and Arts & Crafts.

New Product Gallery, Other Special Features to Offer Buyers 'Exceptional Experience' at the Gifts & Home Products Fair

The China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products will offer a range of value-added buyer and supplier services, including:

• First-time ever Daily Product Parades (Hall 2) with models on parade highlighting products from exhibitors throughout the show.
• New Product Gallery (Hall 10) showcases the latest, most innovative products on exhibit.
• Private Buyer Meetings create exclusive opportunities for pre-selected exhibitors to meet face-to-face with some of the world’s top buyers. These include Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer; OfficeMax, North America's third-largest office products retailer; and ThreeSixty Sourcing, one of the world's largest sourcing organizations.
• Free Conference Programs feature international experts speaking on product trends and compliance, logistics, China sourcing and intellectual property issues.
• Country and regional pavilions focus on products from Asia and emerging mainland China supply centers.
• Special Buyers' Lounges are located in Halls 8, 11 and the East Concourse. The VIP Buyers’ Lounge in Hall 5 offers free Internet access, refreshments and sourcing information.