(Yicai Global) Sept. 25 --The first product batches forexhibitat theChina International Import Expofrom Barbadoshave setoff forChina, 43 daysbeforethe fair's Nov.5opening.

Thefirst load of productsshipped fromCentral America fordisplay at theCIIEleftport on Sept.14. These productsoriginated intheCaribbean islandnation ofBarbadosthen wentto Panamabyair where China COSCO Shippingtook charge oftheirtrans-shipmentto Shanghai,state news media The Paperreported Sept.23.

Latin America's exportsto China havesteadilyrisen as aproportion of the region's total exportvolumein recent years.Chinahas now become itsthird-largestmarket.

Barbados and the otherCaribbeanisland nationsalsohave high expectationsfor theCIIE, hopingthe fairwill bondthem with theChinese market.

Given the distance, timeconstraintsimposed greattensionwhen theexhibition goodsbecame ready in early September.Withthe guidance ofChina's commerce ministry,China COSCO Shipping, the CIIE-recommended shipper for international transport, COSCO Shipping Lines headquartersandtheCIIE'slogisticsteam devisedthesolution of air-plus-sea-freight.

Under this arrangement,Caribbean countriessendtheirgoodsbyair to Panama where COSCO Shippingtakes charge ofcustoms clearance, storage,packing andbooking cargo space before loadingthemforits fastestdeliveryto China.

Fromthese products'arrival atPanama Airport to loading onto ships only took 48 hoursthanksto the effective cooperation between each side.

Editor:BenArmour