WINDHOEK, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Namibia on Monday engaged with different captains of industry in the country and extended invitations to the business community to take part in China's first International Import Expo in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10.

The Expo facilitates countries and regions over the world to strengthen economic cooperation and to promote global trade and world economic growth in order to make the global economy more open.

The event held in Windhoek saw business owners, Chinese Embassy and government officials attend and some of the interested Namibian companies inked Letters of Intent to participate in China's first ever import expo.

Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming said that the expo will provide a platform for the different countries including Namibia to sell their products not only to China but other potential markets.

According to Zhang, around 15 Namibia enterprises in the areas of tourism, beef production, jewelry and oyster production have so far shown keen interest to participate in the Expo.

"China hopes Namibia will be able to use this opportunity to join the rest of the world on this 'free train'. Namibia cannot be absent from an event of this magnitude and I hope more businesses can grab this opportunity to participate," he said.

Namibia's Permanent Secretary of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development, Gabriel Sinimbo at the event encouraged Namibians to embrace the opportunity to participate in the expo and not only do business in the country alone.

"While other countries are creating trade barriers and making it difficult for access to markets, China has actively opened the Chinese market to the world and has extended the opportunities to the Namibia business communities as well," he said.

Sinimbo said the expo can also be a platform for Namibian business firms to exhibit and market their products and in the process also get feedback on how to improve products which will contribute to value addition.

The Chinese expo is set to be a gateway to the global market and enable exchanges between enterprises and consumers and further encourage cooperation among business partners around the globe.