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RE: GSOL

Press Release Source: Global Sources Ltd.

Strategic Alliance Brings Koelnmesse's Hardware Fair / Practical World to Global Sources' China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products in Hong Kong
Monday April 18, 12:08 am ET


HONG KONG, April 18 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Sources and Koelnmesse have formed a strategic alliance to co-locate Koelnmesse's International Hardware Fair / Practical World Hong Kong at Global Sources' China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products.
The fairs are designed to offer buyers thousands of quality manufacturers of gifts and home products, and hundreds of hardware and do-it-yourself suppliers from mainland China, Hong Kong and across Asia. The events will be held every April and October starting 2006 at the new AsiaWorld-Expo venue beside Hong Kong International Airport.

Global Sources chairman and chief executive officer, Merle A. Hinrichs, said: ''We are delighted to have Koelnmesse, Europe's leading hardware and DIY trade show organizer, bring its event to our China Sourcing Fair in Hong Kong.

''More than 38,000 buyers from 110 countries attended the October 2004 China Sourcing Fairs in Shanghai. In addition to building on our Shanghai Fairs this year and through 2006, we expect to greatly expand our Fairs when we add Hong Kong to our line-up next year. Koelnmesse's participation is evidence of the strong interest we are seeing for the Hong Kong Fairs.''

Hinrichs concluded: ''With as many as 4,000 booths each spring and fall, the combined shows are expected to be the largest gifts, home products, hardware and DIY event under one roof in Hong Kong. The scope and size of the event, coupled with the new AsiaWorld-Expo venue, will offer exhibitors and buyers great convenience and new business opportunities.''

Koelnmesse's president and chief executive officer, Jochen Witt, said: ''Through this new strategic alliance, Koelnmesse is further strengthening its involvement in trade fairs abroad. We will build on our 34-year history of hosting the International Hardware Fair / Practical World in Cologne -- the world's largest hardware, DIY and outdoor living show -- to bring hundreds of China suppliers to Hong Kong.

''The combined experience and professionalism of Koelnmesse and Global Sources ensures buyers and exhibitors of a specialized, world-class event. We aim to put Hong Kong on the map as an important center for buyers to source hardware and DIY products from across Asia.''

Asia's newest and most modern exhibition center

The AsiaWorld-Expo venue will offer more than 70,000 square meters of ground level, column-free space in 10 halls. Each hall will be equipped with data, telecom and wireless LAN services, plus state-of-the-art conference rooms, offices and catering facilities.

AsiaWorld-Expo's convenient location and extensive transportation network will make it easy for thousands of suppliers and industry associations to promote their products and services to the world through the China Sourcing Fairs.

AsiaWorld-Expo's chief executive officer, Nicolas Borit, said: ''Visitors can land at Hong Kong International Airport and walk to the venue. A new MTR line will whisk buyers from the station inside AsiaWorld-Expo to downtown Hong Kong in just 25 minutes.

''High-speed ferries will transport passengers direct from the site to key locations in southern China, as well as Macau, just 40 minutes away. This venue occupies a truly unique position in the exhibition world.''

For information about the Global Sources China Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Home Products (Shanghai 19-21 April 2005) visit http://www.chinasourcingfair.com . For details about Koelnmesse's International Hardware Fair / Practical World events, go to http://www.hardwarefair.de .

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company that facilitates global trade, with a particular focus on the China market, by providing information to international buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers.

We deliver content to our communities through our leading network of nine vertical marketplaces and 13 geographic portals, and through magazines, CD-ROMs and private catalogs, as well as China Sourcing Fairs and technical events. Our flagship marketplace, Global Sources Online (www.globalsources.com), hosts more marketing and sourcing activity than any other global merchandise trade marketplace.

We serve a growing, independently certified community of more than 423,000 active buyers in over 230 countries and territories. These buyers generate more than 4 million inquiries annually for more than 130,000 suppliers through Global Sources Online alone. We offer extensive creative services and export consultation through 150 client service officers in Greater China and other leading supply markets, and through more than 800 sales representatives who make approximately 40,000 supplier visits monthly. In mainland China, we have 23 years on-the-ground presence, supported by more than 1,100 team members in 44 locations throughout the country.

Global Sources' solutions are based on 34 years as a trade magazine publisher serving the global trade community, 14 years as a trade management software developer, 13 years as manager of trade shows in Asia, and nine years as an online marketplace operator.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21-E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The company's actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of the risks associated with the company's business, changes in general economic conditions, and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements.


Global Sources contact in US:
James Strachan



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