2012 Shandong Fair Merchandise Fair kicked off in Osaka, western Japan, on March 27, with 143 firms attending the event.?[shandongbusiness.gov.cn]

2012 Shandong Fair Merchandise Fair?kicked off?in Osaka, western Japan, on March 27, with?143 firms attending the event.

The three-day exhibition is organized by the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province in cooperation with Japan-China Economic Relations and Trade Center and Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The exhibition is held in "MYDOME Osaka," a popular exhibition facility in central Osaka.

With an area of?3,836 square meters, this year's event offers the largest display since 1994.

In 2011, Shandong Province's total trade value with Japan reached US$ 24.83 billion, up 18.4 percent from the previous year, according to statistics.