According to Tang Xiaojie, president of SCFETC, one of the three teams will go to Vietnam for contracts in two thermal power stations and two hydropower plants. Another will leave for Guyana to sign an agreement over the construction of a cane-sugar plant. The third will make preparations for a contracted highway building project in Iran, which will involve US$210 million.

Recently, Shanghai government has approved 13 enterprises to deal with foreign trade activities abroad.

With the official permission, 20 groups engaged in business negotiation, foreign capital introduction, overseas project management, after-sale services, or inspection and training will go to the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Japan and some other foreign countries to restart their business.

Members of the groups are required to receive medical checks, including blood test and X-ray examinations at the Shanghai international travel healthcare center before they leave.

Since the beginning of this April, China's foreign trade, especially exports and foreign direct investment, have encountered great challenges due to the SARS influence.

The Shanghai municipal government has encouraged local enterprises to keep contact with their foreign partners via telephone, fax and Internet.

Orient International Enterprise Ltd., mainly engaged in clothes and textiles, saw export volume drop this year.

Fortunately, the enterprise has successfully transformed pressure to impetus by opening three subsidiary companies in America, Australia and Japan, which are able to have direct contacts with overseas customers.

According to official statistics, during the first four months of this year, Shanghai reported a total export volume of US$13.76 billion, 45.2 percent higher than that of the same period last year.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2003)