The Intelligent Industry & Information Technology Exhibition Hall at the third China International Import Expo will offer a larger exhibition area highlighting energy conservation and environmental protection this year, organizers announced on April 27.

Sun Chenghai, deputy director general of the CIIE Bureau, said that high-end smart manufacturing is key to transforming and upgrading the manufacturing industry.

Having been the spotlight of the CIIE since its inception, the Intelligent Industry & Information Technology Exhibition Hall has always gathered many Global Fortune 500 companies to showcase their latest products.

This year, the area will focus on hot topics in the industrial world, including water conservation and new energy, environmental protection technologies and the recycling of resources, with advanced energy-saving technologies and equipment on display.

Two companies, Ingka and Nachi-Fujikoshi, have signed contracts with the CIIE Bureau on April 27 to exhibit their products at the third expo.

Ingka, the world's leading home furnishing retailer, doubled its exhibition area this year, a show of its confidence in the Chinese market.

"China remains one of the major markets for Ingka," said Stéphan Deville, president of Ingka Group Real Estate (China).

Deville added that the company is also willing to explore the practices in the field of renewable energy and recycling economy with industrial experts.

This year marks the third time that Nachi-Fujikoshi, a Japanese intelligent manufacturing company, will be attending the CIIE.

Hara Hideaki, chief representative of Nachi-Fujikoshi (China), said he is confident of steady growth in the Chinese economy. "The indispensable automation and energy-saving technologies of Nachi will help the company to better participate in promoting technological innovation in Chinese manufacturing," he said.

To date, over 70 percent of the planned exhibition area for this year's expo has been booked. Some 1,100 companies have already signed up for the expo.