Trade show showcases latest innovations by leading businesses

The 2021 Changsha International Construction Equipment Exhibition is underway at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center from Wednesday to Saturday.

The event is showcasing the latest technologies and products in the manufacturing industry, including the new generation of intelligent construction machinery. Nearly 1,450 exhibitors from across the world have been attracted to its 300,000 square-meter exhibition area.

Of the 50 leading giants in the industry globally, more than 30 are participating in the 2021 CICEE in Hunan province. Thirteen are newcomers to the event.

Flagship products from enterprises across the whole industrial chain are on display. These include new-generation concrete pump trucks, unmanned asphalt and concrete pavers and road rollers, and a large number of eco-friendly products－such as hybrid vehicle pumps, electric mixers and dump trucks.

To realize high-level internationalization and industrial influence in Hunan, the exhibition invited industrial leaders such as Caterpillar from the United States, Liebherr from Germany, Atlas from Sweden and Sumitomo from Japan.

Four domestically leading enterprises－Sany, Zoomlion, Sunward and China Railway Construction Heavy Industry－have brought their latest products to the event.

Back in 2019, when the first CICEE was held, there were 1,150 construction machinery industry enterprises from home and abroad that took part. More than 22 percent of them were from overseas. A total of 14 were listed as Fortune Global 500 companies.

According to organizers, the 2019 event attracted the participation of 180,000 professionals from across the world. More than 100 CEOs from world-renowned companies, 20 academicians and highly skilled personnel were invited.

More than 30 ambassadors and commercial counselors from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative released procurement information and attended on-site matchmaking activities during the 2019 event.

Compared with the first exhibition, this year's CICEE has achieved breakthroughs with "more accurate target-locating, a stronger lineup, higher standards and higher degree of internationalization", according to organizers.

It is getting closer to building itself into a world-class construction machinery exhibition, the organizer said.

Manufacturing is the backbone of China's economy. According to Hunan's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the development of the manufacturing industry is the province's top priority.

As one of the largest bases for the construction machinery industry in China, Hunan is home to 172 large-scale enterprises and more than 300 supporting enterprises.

Changsha, known as the "capital of construction machinery", has pledged to build a 500-billion-yuan ($77.6 billion) manufacturing industrial cluster.

Gao Haitao, vice-president of the Changsha Construction Machinery Association, said this year's CICEE is a platform for Hunan to display its achievements in the advanced manufacturing industry and its innovation-driven development.

This will give impetus to the global economic recovery, he said.

In the next stage, Changsha will seek new opportunities for internationalization, professionalization and marketization at an even higher level, Gao added.

liyou@chinadaily.com.cn