2016年CRI Tibet Expo: platform that links Tibetan products and the world（在线收听）

The China Tibet Tourism and Culture Expo is not all about tourism development and cultural exchanges – this is also a platform for business people to show their products to the world.

Lagqiong, a silverware maker from Tibet's second-largest city Shigatse, comes to the expo every year.

He says this event gives him more customers.

"The demand for my silverware products has increased a lot ever since I came to the expo. I have a workshop back in my hometown Shigatse. People would go to my factory directly to place orders. I have plenty of customers now."

Lagqiong added before he came here, he had aleady received many orders.

More than 200 businessmen from some 110 Nepali enterprises were also invited to attend this year's expo.

Bhim Sherchan owns a factory making hand-made Nepalese Tibetan carpets and handicrafts.

The company has been exporting to Germany, the U.S., Japan and other European countries.

Sherchan says among them, China is his largest market.

"Of course, due to its large population – and the cold region is here—it's a potential area for us. Before we couldn't introduce ourselves, now we're going to introduce ourselves, these hand-made products. So I think a lot of the markets are here. "

He added that the most difficult thing for his job in China was language, but the popular social platform "WeChat" has totally addressed his concerns, and allows him to promote his carpets in Chinese.

The expo not only provides a platform for craftsmen to show their work, but also gives them opportunities to expand their business network.

Dojre Cairang, general-manager of Tibetan rug manufacturer, is planning to export his raw materials to Nepal.

"Today I talked to a Nepali carpet maker, who owns the largest carpet-making factory in Nepal. He asked me whether I could provide him with raw materials to make carpets. My products can totally meet his requirements, and he thinks we should maintain a long-term relationship for cooperation."

The week-long expo gathers about 1,500 officials, experts and representatives from more than 15 countries and regions.

The event will come to a close on September 16.

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua reporting from Lhasa.