NKorea stages trade fair in special economic zone скачать в хорошем качестве

NKorea stages trade fair in special economic zone

(20 Aug 2012) STORYLINE: North Korea is staging its second international trade fair in the special economic zone of Rason this week just days after a top official went to China to drum up support for the region. A year after the first fair, there are signs of development in the area near the borders of China, Russia and North Korea, including a newly paved road making it easier for Chinese investors to travel to the remote area in North Korea's far northeast. Organisers said foreign business groups from 11 countries were taking part in The Rason International Trade Exhibition, which runs from 20-23 August. Stalls from businesses based in China, Russia, Czech Republic, Taiwan, Sweden and the US were seen by the Associated Press on Monday. Organisers said businesses from France, Switzerland, Australia, Germany and Japan were also involved. A wide variety of products, including medicine, food, clothes, equipment, toys and household appliances were on display. Most dominant at the trade show were Chinese companies, especially those from the border area next to North Korea. North Korean companies were also promoting their businesses, with one clothing company representative saying that their goods are being exported to "more than 13 countries around the world." Rason was earmarked years ago as a special economic zone but became the focus of renewed activity after North Korea revised laws in 2010 and 2011. The significant advantage of the area of North East Asia is its port where the water does not freeze during the winter, and this is thought to be of particular interest to Chinese businesses, China does not have access to shipping in its North East. Building the North Korean economy has been a main government policy since 2009, when the late leader Kim Jong Il tapped his son Kim Jong Un to succeed him. Growth has languished in the country since the Soviet collapse, in sharp contrast to the rest of Northeast Asia, and Pyongyang has increasingly turned to China for help. Last week, Kim Jong Un's uncle led a high-profile visit to China to discuss investment. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...