Buyers queue up to attend an overseas exhibition arranged by Hangzhou. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

After coming back from Dubai, Zhang Hao, who runs educational toys in Hangzhou, returned to work, speeded up manufacturing, enhanced customer connections, and strived to turn business intentions into orders and products.

"Getting the order is only the first step, as the delivery time is very tight and follow-up work such as making samples, purchasing supplies, manufacturing, and booking containers and shipping needs to be done in a timely manner," Zhang said.

With busier production lines than in the past three years and the upcoming Spring Festival homebound rush, Hangzhou foreign trade enterprises are encouraging employees to stay put during the holiday to ensure the smooth delivery of orders.

In addition to paying overtime their employees for overtime work, many companies will also prepare Spring Festival red packets and stay-in gift packs, arrange New Year's Eve dinner, raise food standards during the festival, and arrange for preferential leave after the holiday.

In 2023, Hangzhou will arrange for more than 150 business delegations to participate in more than 100 professional exhibitions overseas. More than 3,000 enterprises will go abroad to explore the international market, aiming to obtain 100 billion yuan ($14.79 billion) in foreign orders.

The booth of a Hangzhou enterprise at an overseas expo. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]