www.chinaview.cn 2009-05-12 21:37:07

SHANGHAI , May 12 (Xinhua) -- An organizer of the upcoming SIAL China 2009 hospitality expo in Shanghai told Xinhua Tuesday that Mexican enterprises' decision to withdraw from the annual international trade event was "normal business behavior".

Organizers did not voluntarily cancel the status of "country of honor" for Mexico at the SIAL China 2009, said the France-based Exposium-SIAL Exhibition, one of the co-organizers.

The SIAL China is the nation's largest international exhibition for the food, beverage and hospitality trade.

The Mexican exhibition team, which had planned to participate in the SIAL China 2009 with the status of "country of honor," decided to withdraw from the trade event on Monday, due partly to the A/HIN1 epidemic.

Lou Shuyu, general manager of the Exposium-SIAL Exhibition, said that rumors about that organizers canceled the status of "country of honor" for Mexico were "groundless".

He said that Mexico had planned to dispatch 30 businesses to participate in the SIAL China 2009, with an exhibition space of 200 square meters allocated for them. Their exhibits would have included the world famous Mexican Tequila and some pork products.

Lou noted Mexican withdrawal would not affect the operation of the SIAL China 2009.

More than 1,100 exhibitors from 50-plus nations and regions are preparing for the upcoming trade event, according to Lou.

The total exhibition space is 40,000 square meters, which is roughly the same as that for last year's trade event.

It is reported that organizers will discuss with the Mexican exhibitors how to deal with the 100,000 U.S. dollar deposit the exhibition space. The Mexican group will either take it as money paid in advance for next year's trade event or ask the organizers to refund the money.

"We hope that the friendly relationship we've established with associations and enterprises concerned throughout years will not be affected (by the withdrawal decision)," Lou said.

He added that his company wished Mexican businesses would come to China to participate in the trade event for next year.

The SIAL China 2009 is due to be held at Shanghai New International Expo Center from May 19 to 21. It is organized jointly by Exposium-SIAL Exhibition and China Commerce Development Center.