Space Idea, an international exhibition group, has been hired to design and build the China Corporate Pavilion at the prestigious 2015 Milan World Expo, sealing the deal by signing a contract with the pavilion's executive committee on Wednesday.

The pavilion is one of three Chinese pavilions at the expo, which will open in Milan, Italy, on May 1, 2015.

The other two are the China Pavilion and Vanke Pavilion, which is sponsored by property development company Vanke.

"Signing such a contract is an important link in the chain of launching a pavilion project,"said Chen Anjie, director of the committee.

The China Corporate Pavilion, covering an area of more than 2,000 square meters, is expected to accommodate 15 to 20 companies. The Kuaijishan Shaoxing Wine Co Ltd has been chosen as the first exhibitor, according to the committee.

"Many companies have entered their names as candidates and work is being done to choose exhibitors from them,"Chen said.

Lyu Yugui, president of the Space Idea International Exhibition Group, said the company will design and build the pavilion, as well as designing the exhibitions for the companies renting space.

The 2015 Milan World Expo Chinese will be the first overseas expo that Chinese companies have attended as a group.

The pavilion's theme will be "Chinese seeds", reflecting the spirit of growth and development present in Chinese companies, Chen said.

"The theme, which also echoes that of the expo generally, has been much praised by the expo organizing committee," he said.

Lyu said Space Idea is designing ways to transmit the theme to the world by combining architectural technologies with artistic innovation.

The company worked on construction projects on the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and the 2012 South Korea Yeosu World Expo China Pavilion.