culture

The 17th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair took place in the DPRK from October 27 to 31.

Presented to the fair were tens of thousands of products of more than 1 400 kinds, including electronic goods, machines, building materials, seafoods, sanitary and light-industry goods and food and consumer goods produced by over 210 enterprises and companies of the DPRK, Russia, China, Mongolia, Cambodia, Thailand and India by applying advanced science and technologies.

According to Kim Il Hyok, section chief of the Ministry of External Economic Relations, the exhibition was aimed at promoting friendship between countries, expanding external economic relations and making greater contributions to developing the economy and improving the people’s standard of living.

On display at the exhibition were special and natural products of the DPRK, drawing the attention of visitors.

The Kumgangsan speciality exchange company presented more than 140 products of over a dozen kinds including apicultural products, agricultural produce, drinks and souvenirs made with natural raw materials in Mt Kumgang, a world celebrated mountain and pollution-free area. In particular, various health promoting teas of third-stage processing, including those made with mulberry mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, Inonotus and matrimony vine fruit, were very popular as they maintain their unique tastes and fragrance and dissolve in hot water in an instant while preserving their characteristics and state.

Visitors showed a special interest in the 60-odd kinds of processed insam products made by the Kaesong Koryo Insam Trading Company with Kaesong Koryo insam, whose mysterious medicinal effects have been widely known as a tonic for making people enjoy a long life in good health since ancient times.

Health foods of the Samjiyon Blueberry Drink Factory made by processing blueberry from Mt Paektu, a celebrated mountain of the DPRK, were also popular among the visitors.

The booths of home-made electronic goods also lured many people.

On display at the smart phone booth were Jindallae(azalea)- and Phurunhanul (blue sky)-brand smart phones with stylish external shapes and superior functions, which are familiar to the local people.

The electronic products presented by many local production units, including media player, intelligent wattmeter, cameras, wireless network adapters, smart card payment machine, imbued the visitors with a strong sense of pride in domestic products.

Other eye-catchers included various kinds of handmade bags from the Sojang Light Industry Goods Manufactory under the Trading Department of the Ministry of Light Industry. As they looked fashionable with ornaments applied by a variety of traditional hand embroidery in good harmony with metal fittings, they won favour with many women visitors.

As in the past, Kumgangsan-brand cosmetics enjoyed popularity as they are made with Kaesong Koryo insam as the main ingredient, clear and clean water from Mt Kumgang and extracts of natural resources by employing latest science and technology and help people look young and beautiful with marked skin elasticity improving, whitening, wrinkle prevention and moisturizing effects.

Meanwhile, the household appliances, decorative building materials, light industrial goods and others from foreign companies added colour to the exhibition.

There was a briefing session on economic exchange and cooperation during the exhibition.