TRADITIONALLY a platform for boosting exports, the East China Fair has turned the tables somewhat this year by inviting more foreign exhibitors to the Shanghai-hosted event.

Mortazavi Carpet Co, among a group of companies from Iran, brought their classic products such as carpets and home decorations to the fair. It is selling silk carpets for up to 80,000 yuan (US$12,698).

The Iranian consul general and commerce officials also attended the fair, which opened yesterday, to promote trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"It is our first time to participate in the East China Fair," said Hossein Khalifi, former deputy chief of the Iran Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo and now the general manager of Persepolis Carpet.

"We bring our best products, and hope people here love them as well as our culture."

Together with Iranian companies, there were more than 100 businesses from countries and regions including South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Hong Kong and Taiwan that set up demonstration areas at the fair, which will run through next Tuesday at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.

Partly due to yesterday's rainy and windy weather, attendance was lower than expected. But the number of visitors may increase at the weekend, bringing more business opportunities, fair organizers said.

The fair is backed by the Ministry of Commerce. It is co-sponsored by Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi and Shandong's provincial governments, as well as Shanghai, Nanjing and Ningbo's city governments.