On 27 and 28 November (Thurs.-Fri.), Okinawa Prefecture and the Okinawa Konwakai will present the "First Great Okinawa Trade Fair," among Japan's largest international food business meeting sessions of the type based on appointments made in advance. The participants include 201 exhibitor companies from throughout Japan and 138 buyer companies from 16 countries and regions as well as Japan.

This trade fair is held for the purpose of promoting Okinawa's international logistics goods network (Okinawa as international flight logistics hub), contributing to the expansion of overseas sales routes for specialty products from throughout Japan.

Last year's pre-event, the "Pre-Great Okinawa Trade Fair," featured 131 exhibitor companies and 102 overseas buyer companies and regions from 17 Asian and European countries including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia; over two days, 1840 business meetings took place, making it among the largest trade fairs in Japan. As well, business contracts totaled 66 (3.6%) and 113 after four months (6.1%); including projected business contracts, the total was 457 (24.9%) and 458 after four months (24.9%), a high rate of completed and projected contracts for a first-time trade fair.

This year the scope will be further expanded, rendering the trade fair among Japan's largest-scale individual business meeting sessions based on appointments made in advance; as well, full support toward completing business contracts will be provided.

*Because business meeting sessions are for business purposes only, members of the general public are not permitted to attend.

* Free business meeting sessions are limited to buyers, and same-day participation is possible. Please consult the website listed below for details.

Great Okinawa Trade Fair 2014 Outline

-Name: The First Great Okinawa Trade Fair (Great Okinawa Trade Fair  2014)

-Venue:Okinawa Convention Center, Exhibition Hall/Theater

           (4-3-1 Mashiki,  Ginowan City, Okinawa)

            Ginowan City Gymnasium (4-2-1 Mashiki, Ginowan City, Okinawa)

           (Reception on the night before: Loisir Hotel and Spa Tower Naha)

-Schedule:26 November 2014 (Wed.) 18:30 - 20:00 Reception on the night Before

               27 November 2014 (Thurs.) 9:00 - 18:30 Opening Ceremony / Orientation /

                                                                             Business Meetings Day 1

                        1) Opening Ceremony

                            9:00 - 9:30 / Okinawa Convention Center, Theater, Theater Hall

                        2) Free Business Meetings

                            10:00 - 11:30 / Okinawa Convention Center, Exhibition Hall,

                                                    Exhibition Booths

                        3) Individual Business Meetings

                            13:00 - 18:30 / Ginowan City Gymnasium, Business Meeting Area

                28 November 2014 (Fri.) 9:00 - 17:00 Business Meetings Day 2

                        1) Free Business Meetings

                            9:00 - 11:00 / Exhibition Hall, Exhibition Booths

                        2) Individual Business Meetings

                            12:30 - 17:00 / Ginowan City Gymnasium, Business Meeting Area

-Sponsors:Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa Konwakai

-Web Site: http://www.gotf.jp/english/