CRC—The gateway to China's retail market

The latest MasterIndex of Retail forecast released by MasterCard International indicates that the development of the retail industry in the Asia-Pacific Region will continue to boom, and China, with a 14 percent annual growth rate, will maintain its leading position in the region. Since China abolished all restrictions on market and capital admission for foreign-invested retail services as of Dec. 11, 2004, overseas investment and rapid expansion of various retail shops will generate larger demands on store equipment and retail technology, as well as on shop design services. As opportunities continue to open up, those in the retail industry interested in entering the Asian retail sector may wish to attend the China Retail Expo and Conference 2005 (CRC 2005) that will take place June 28-30, 2005, at Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China.

Since its establishment in 1995, CRC has continued to promote the development of China's retail industry, and in 2004, CRC set up full cooperation with Euroshop, the world's largest retail show. Using the example of Euroshop in order to meet the rapid development of China's shopping malls and specialty stores, CRC will offer two brand new sectors in 2005: Design & Display and Merchandising & Sales Promotion. These sectors will be set up in addition to the two traditional sectors of Modernshop and Retailtech, which focus respectively on store fixtures and refrigerated equipment and retail technologies.

Held in conjunction with CRC Expo, the 2005 CRC Retail Fortune Forum will address the hot topics in China's retail market in the Post-WTO Era and provide a meeting place for Chinese and international retail experts and scholars to exchange ideas. CRC Designers' Forum will highlight the Design & Display section. Famous international designers will introduce the latest in global design trends and open lasting lines of communication with their Chinese peers.