Four consumer product shows scheduled for August 2012

HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Global Sources' (NASDAQ: GSOL) successful China Sourcing Fairs exhibition brand is being expanded to yet another continent -- South America. The company announced today that the first China Sourcing Fairs in Sao Paulo, Brazil are scheduled to be launched in August 2012. Comprising four co-located Fairs, the events aim to enable manufacturers from China and other Asian markets to meet and do business with buyers in Brazil and surrounding countries. The China Sourcing Fairs in Brazil are to be managed by Milton Exhibits, under license from Global Sources.

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The simultaneous events are scheduled to be held August 14-16, 2012, at the Imigrantes Exhibition Center, Sao Paulo. The shows scheduled are: Electronics, Gifts & Premiums, Garments & Textiles and Hardware & Building Materials.

"Asia's exporters are increasingly looking to expand to new markets where demand for consumer products is growing. Brazil is a market where these manufacturers see growing interest in their products," said Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions. "The China Sourcing Fairs in Brazil will be the first time buyers in that part of the world can have access to such a large selection of China and Asian suppliers."

"South America is one of the key areas where suppliers have told us they wanted to expand their business. Specifically, Brazil, with a population over 200 million people, was the country where they wanted the next China Sourcing Fair to be launched," Wong added.

With a GDP of $2 trillion in 2010, Brazil has become the seventh-largest economy in the world. Its economy is expected to grow by 4.5% in 2011, and by over 4% in 2012. Economic growth drives demand for consumer products -- many of which are made by China and Asia-based manufacturers. Brazil's retail sales grew by 10.3% last year, making it one of the most attractive markets for Asia's exporters.

Emerging markets has been an important niche for the China Sourcing Fairs over the past few years, with new China Sourcing Fairs being launched in up-and-coming consumer markets like Dubai, Mumbai, Johannesburg, and most recently in Miami, to serve the Latin American market. In fact, largely as a result of these new events, Global Sources has qualified more than 100,000 buyers from emerging markets over the past 24 months.

The China Sourcing Fairs held in Brazil are scheduled to be complemented by Global Sources' new Online Sourcing Fairs. Online Sourcing Fairs enable buyers to engage with exhibitors before, during and after the physical shows, or even if they cannot visit the physical shows. Suppliers, at the same time, can benefit as the life of their exhibition investment can be extended from a few days to several months. Suppliers are able to reach more buyers and generate more sales leads -- which can then translate into an improved return on investment.

More information about the China Sourcing Fairs is available at: http://www.chinasourcingfair.com.

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China.

The core business facilitates trade between Asia and the world using English-language media such as online marketplaces (http://www.globalsources.com), print and digital magazines, sourcing research reports, private sourcing events, trade shows, and online sourcing fairs.

Over 1 million international buyers, including 85 of the world's top 100 retailers, use these services to obtain product and company information to help them source more profitably from overseas supply markets. These services also provide suppliers with integrated marketing solutions to build corporate image, generate sales leads and win orders from buyers in more than 240 countries and territories.

Global Sources' other businesses provides Chinese-language media to companies selling to and within Greater China. These services include online web sites, print and digital magazines, seminars and trade shows. In mainland China, Global Sources has a network of more than 40 office locations and a community of nearly 3 million registered online users and magazine readers of its Chinese-language media.

Now in its fifth decade, Global Sources has been publicly listed on the NASDAQ since 2000.

SOURCE Global Sources