With booming 70% growth in buyer attendance, more Private Sourcing Events are scheduled for the second half of 2010 to help suppliers tap huge market potential HONG KONG, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The optimistic economic outlook in emerging markets is attracting more local retailers to participate in Global Sources' (Nasdaq: GSOL) (http://www.globalsources.com ) Private Sourcing Events (http://www.PrivateSourcingEvents.com ). Twenty-four buyers from emerging markets joined these sourcing events between January and June 2010, a robust 70 percent increase, as compared with the second half of 2009. Buyers from Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, India, the United Arab Emirates and Poland participated in Global Sources' Private Sourcing Events in the first half of 2010. They took part in more than 480 one-on-one matching opportunities with Greater China suppliers during the period. Global Sources' Chairman and CEO, Merle A. Hinrichs, said: "Emerging markets are predicted to grow three times faster than developed nations in 2010. After the economic downturn, suppliers realize the importance of diversifying their export markets and emerging countries are becoming the best choice to facilitate export growth. "Global Sources plans to continue connecting Greater China exporters with emerging market buyers, as they are becoming increasingly important to our suppliers' export marketing strategies. To achieve this, we are also actively working to attract more buyers from these markets, including Latin America, India and Eastern Europe, to our complete range of product sourcing channels." Emerging market buyers with combined annual sales of over US$7.7 billion participated in the Private Sourcing Events in the first six months of 2010. Among them were: -- Alpha Logica -- one of Europe's largest sourcing companies -- Bata -- among the world's leading footwear retailers -- Euroset -- one of Russia's largest mobile phone and electronic accessories retailers -- Future Group -- one of India's leading business groups -- Intelbras -- Latin America's leading manufacturer of PABX systems and telephones -- Liverpool -- one of Latin America's largest retailers -- Lodha -- among India's largest real estate developers -- Onida -- one of India's most popular electronics and white goods companies -- Orient Craft -- one of India's largest garment manufacturers -- Perfekt -- Poland's leading mobile phone accessories wholesaler -- Targmax -- Mexico's leading brand of computing products -- The LOOT -- one of India's largest and fastest-growing discount retailers "Private Sourcing Events are a unique value for us," said Jose Vazquez, Product Development Manager of Targmex, a participating buyer from Mexico. "We are looking for competitive suppliers that can adapt quickly to the specific needs of our markets, and deliver quality products in a timely manner. Because suppliers are pre-screened based on our needs, Private Sourcing Events provide an efficient method of discovering new, qualified trading partners from China. These events will surely become an important component in our China sourcing program." One participating supplier, General Manager of Xiamen Horison Commercial & Trade Co., Alan Wu said: "Private Sourcing Events have given us vital new business from both established and new markets. This year, we are glad to see more buyers from emerging markets such as Mexico and India participating. "I am confident that Private Sourcing Events will help us further explore the emerging markets. We are thankful to Global Sources for organizing these events, which have proven valuable for our company." World's top buyers scheduled to attend upcoming Private Sourcing Events Over 100 Private Sourcing Events are planned for 2010, with some of the biggest buyers in developed and emerging markets, including Li & Fung, Staples, Tesco and Intelbras, scheduled to participate. All Private Sourcing Events are complimentary for buyers and only Global Sources suppliers are eligible to participate. More information about Private Sourcing Events is available at http://www.PrivateSourcingEvents.com . Suppliers wishing to participate should contact csm@globalsources.com . Specialized Global Sources websites, face-to-face events and trade magazines Private Sourcing Events are part of Global Sources' portfolio of sourcing and product information service brands. These include Global Sources Online (http://www.globalsources.com ), China Sourcing Fairs (http://www.chinasourcingfair.com ) and Global Sources monthly magazines (http://www.globalsources.com/SITE/MAGAZINES.HTM ). For more information about Global Sources' products and services to connect quality buyers and quality suppliers, visit http://www.corporate.globalsources.com . About Global Sources Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world. The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies to sell to, and within Greater China. The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 967,000 active buyers source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 240 countries. The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on 4.5 million products and more than 262,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly print and 16 digital magazines, over 80 sourcing research reports and 20 specialized trade shows which run 57 times a year across 9 cities. Suppliers receive more than 192 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online (http://www.globalsources.com ) alone. Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for nearly 40 years. Global Sources' network covers more than 60 cities worldwide. In mainland China, Global Sources has about 2,500 team members in more than 40 locations, and a community of over 2 million registered online users and magazine readers for its Chinese-language media. Global Sources Press Contact in Asia: Camellia So Tel: +852-2555-5021 Email: cso@globalsources.com Global Sources Press Contact in U.S.: James W.W. Strachan Tel: +1-480-664-8309 Email: strachan@globalsources.com Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia: Suzanne Wang Tel: +852-2555-4747 Email: investor@globalsources.com Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S.: Kirsten Chapman & Timothy Dien Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. Tel: +1-415-433-3777 Email: tdien@lhai.com