Nine imported brand enterprises from Italy that proved popular during the May 5 Shopping Festival in Shanghai, have signed up for the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) recently.

The enrolled Italian products were recommended by Shanghai Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center.

The two sessions of the expo, led by the municipal government and supported by State-owned enterprises, has attracted more than 1,200 brands and more than 10,000 commodity categories from more than 70 countries and regions.

In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, under the strong support of Shanghai Commission of Commerce, the center has decided not only to exempt all merchants from half-year service fees, but also to provide the most popular livestreaming service for exhibitors.

During the May 5 Shopping Festival, five livestreaming shows were arranged and 10 brand promotion videos were made.

Liu Qiang, president of Shanghai Sinodrink Trading Co Ltd, said that in the second half of last year, the company settled in the center. During the second CIIE, its wine, olive oil and other commodities sold out.

Now, despite the epidemic, with the help of the center the company is slowly recovering, and since April, sales have reached about 50 percent of pre-epidemic figures. During the shopping festival, the company launched a "buy one get one free" promotion for many kinds of wine, and many consumers bought cases of wine.