The Yida Express Elevator Co participates in the Azerbaijan International Elevator & Escalator Equipment Exhibition. [Photo/Tide News]

Business representatives from Yida Express Elevator Co, based in Nanxun district, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, participated in the Azerbaijan International Elevator & Escalator Equipment Exhibition from Feb 26 to 28 at the Baku Expo Center.

The company's smart elevator and escalator equipment attracted significant interest from buyers, resulting in potential orders exceeding 5 million yuan ($685,690) in just half a day on Feb 26.

According to an official from Nanxun's commerce bureau, the district is one of China's three major elevator industry clusters. That made, he said, elevator manufacturing there a key export industry – and over 10 elevator companies from Nanxun participated in the exhibition.

With emerging markets in Africa and Central Asia fast becoming crucial international markets for the district's foreign trade, the enthusiasm among participating elevator companies was very high.

Last year, Yida's export volume grew by more than 30 percent year-on-year, with markets along the Belt and Road Initiative becoming a new growth area.

The company plans to visit Russia, Brazil, Turkiye, and other countries to meet clients, negotiate orders, and explore markets, according to Zhang Ming, international trade director of Yida Express Elevator Co.

Elsewhere, Huzhou Jinglian Import and Export Co currently focuses on markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. "Our new plan includes targeting the Central Asian market and this is our first time attending the international elevator exhibition in Azerbaijan," said a representative of the company.