A business representative from Nantong talks with a potential partner at a match-docking conference during the second China International Import Exposition held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province inked 147 projects involving trade procurement, food, aerospace, chemicals, medical equipment, environmental protection, and high-end equipment manufacturing at the second China International Import Exposition held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10.

A total of 1,895 companies and 6,689 people from Nantong attended the event seeking cooperation opportunities. Nine Nantong companies exhibited products at the event.

Officials said that 40 percent of the companies also took part in the first expo.

A fruit company based in Chongchuan district signed seven cooperation agreements worth 50 million yuan ($7.14 million) with overseas suppliers at last year's expo, helping reduce their costs by 15 percent.

This year, the company participated in a match-docking conference and signed 15 million yuan in orders with partners from New Zealand and Thailand.

Officials said the city's commerce bureau will closely follow up on all signed projects to ensure they are carried out successfully.

The Nantong government has already begun preparing for next year's expo, and a variety of promotional events are expected to be held in the city to attract investment and promote international cooperation.