The largest exporter led delegation from the Bay of Plenty is preparing for Bay of Plenty Week at the Shanghai Expo.
The Expo opens May 1 and runs for six months until October 31. Export Bay of Plenty has booked the entire VIP pavillion from July 19-25.

Export NZ CEO Angela Wallace.

There is a delegation of 57 heading from the Bay of Plenty to Shanghai for that week, including 28 Tauranga exporters, and ten from Rotorua.
Local body politicians accompanying the delegation will help lift the exporters' profile with the Chinese, and open many doors says Export BOP chief executive Angela Wallace.
The politicians, including Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby and councillor Bill Faulkner are going to be working, says Angela.
The three-in-one trip is primarily industry driven, with Shanghai Expo to be followed by a visit to Tauranga's sister city Yantai by a strong exporter delegation, and the Tauranga politicians.
The Rotorua delegation will be carrying on to Nanjing after Shanghai.
'Part of the Tauranga/Yantai sister cities agreement is there is a mayoral visit every two years, and this is perfect timing,” says Angela. 'That's why Stuart Crosby is going, and it is wonderful that Bill Faulkner is paying his own way.
'It is such a big delegation but these people are going to be run off their feet.”
The Shanghai Expo is being run by Export New Zealand. The Yantai visit is a Tauranga City Council/Export BOP joint venture, plus there is an Environment BOP heading to Yantai.
'That is a separate visit,” says Angela. 'They will be hosted by Eastern Sea Farms.”
The EBOP delegation includes regional council mayor John Cronin and Opotiki mayor John Forbes plus a councillor each.
The politicians bring status to the commercial delegations, and will be working for the duration of the trip says Angela. She's responsible for their itineraries.
'These people are going to be run off their feet. The people coming know what we want to try and achieve. For the people who know China and understand business, it's a no brainer. Having these dignitaries there to support our exporters just lifts us up so high.