A high powered delegation from China's enormous industrial powerhouse is on its way to Southampton as part of a trade mission that could mean millions of pounds worth of business for the region.

Top buyers from the rapidly growing dragon economy will be taking an in-depth look at marine equipment and boats on display at the tenth annual Seawork exhibition and conference which begins in the city next Tuesday.

Organisers of the show, expected to see in excess of 6,000 visitors, have estimated it will generate at least £5m for the Southampton economy through hotel bookings, increased custom for pubs, bars and restaurants as well as a busy times for the city's airport, train services and taxis.

With 400 exhibitors from all over the world and 70 vessels afloat on a purpose built marina, Seawork, now recognised as a leading world-class event in the commercial marine calendar, has sparked strong interest from behind the Bamboo Curtain.

The significant decision by China to send a delegation to the Southampton exhibition underlines the importance that overseas markets now place on being at Seawork and could eventually lead to thick order books for the south's marine industry.

Amongst the Chinese group will be representatives from the port of Tianjin which employs 18,000 people and is on the coast of BoHai Bay covering the north and east of China as well as being linked to the inland waterway system.

The port is one of China's official growth cities, handling both container and bulk cargo. Last year almost six million container units, three times the total of Southampton's annual container movements, and 250m tonnes of cargo passed over the dockside.

With Tianjin undergoing a major investment programme to turn it into the world's largest man-made port the Chinese will be taking a close look at exhibitors in the fields of vessel design and build, engines, propulsion and power generation, navigation and communication equipment, diving and underwater service for ports, pollution control, vessel management systems together with the recruitment and training of staff.

The Beijing based, China Communications Import and Export Corporation (CIESCO), a solely owned government enterprise, a key window of foreign trade for the transportation sector, will be also keen to see these exhibitors together with those producing lifting gear, deck and hydraulic equipment.

Also part of the contingent from the Far East will be the Panjin Win Star Plastics Company from Hong Kong and the Lung Shipbuilding Company from Taipei City, Taiwan.

Staged at the Canary Islands Fruit Terminal in the city's Western Docks, Seawork is a business-to-business exhibition that has grown over the past decade to become the biggest event of its kind in Europe.

Every single square foot of the exhibition halls has been booked by companies not only from the UK but also Italy, Korea, New Zealand, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, Australia, USA, Turkey and Spain.

There will be a separate pavilions for DiveWork, Ship Building and Ship Repair together with propulsion, a section focusing solely on rigid inflatable boats and for the first time, Maritime Jobs Fair and Training Pavilion.

Running alongside the three-day long event will be a conference with speakers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Ministry of Defence while on the last day there will be a seminar on Coastal Ports and Surveying.

n Seawork 2007 runs from Tuesday, June 12 until Thursday, June 14 and for more information about the event log on to www.seawork.com.