BAUMA China 2004, a premier construction equipment trade fair in China, opened November 16 at the Shanghai New International Exposition Centre.

　　A total of 742 companies from 27 countries will display their latest products during the four-day fair, an increase of 43 per cent compared with the 458 exhibitors at Bauma China 2002.

　　In addition to the equipment displays, the exhibition also provides opportunities for exhibitors to showcase their product support services.

　　Caterpillar Inc, a technology leader and the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, impresses visitors to the fair with their unique "Cat Care" service van that has been acclaimed for its efficient analytical repair service in the field.

　　Its subsidiary company, Caterpillar Financial Leasing Co Ltd, announced at the fair the signing of its first customer lease contracts. The company introduced leasing operations in April in Beijing and its business in China "is expected to grow significantly next year," according to a company source.

　　The number of domestic exhibitors has increased this year to 427, more than double that of the previous fair. Fair organizers were pleasantly surprised since this year the central government has taken a series of measures to cool down the overheated construction sector.

　　Official statistics show the monthly growth rate of construction machinery sales in China declined rapidly during the first nine months of this year, from almost 60 per cent in February to about 10 per cent in September.

　　Chen Zeyan, vice-chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Machinery SubCouncil, said the slowing down clearly signals that the macro-control measures taken by the central government have taken effect.

　　"However, the annual growth rate of construction machinery sales in China is expected to stand at 10 per cent this year, which is believed to be a healthy and proper increase," Chen added.

　　Analysts say the prospect of China's construction machinery market is optimistic since the demand in infrastructure projects is enormous and the central government is set to boost the development of the equipment manufacturing industry.