The Shanghai World Expo Bureau will launch a full-scale trial operation of the Concessionary Plan of the World Expo Logo Merchandise, and hold a two-month“First World Expo Merchandise Design Competition”from April.

The trial operation in the latter half of 2005 will successively launch four kinds of merchandise, i.e., casual wear, home articles, stationary, and souvenirs. After the trial operation, the concessionary management plan will enter into the stage of formal operation for the period of 2006 to the end of 2010. The plan will integrate the theme promoted by the World Expo, hotspots of market consumption, and style of product design to develop and put out a variety of merchandise bearing the theme concept of the Shanghai World Expo together with practical as well as storage value. Furthermore, it will establish specialty stores and special counters both nationwide and in some areas overseas to sell the merchandise of the World Expo. (Dai Qian)