"I came to Yiwu for business, but now it's my home. I enjoy Chinese food, have many Chinese friends, and participate in local charity events. I plan to stay here permanently," says Kamil, an Iraqi businessman and head of Yiwu Kamil Business Consulting Co Ltd.
Yiwu, known as the "world's supermarket", began attracting international merchants in 2005, including Kamil. He first visited to buy goods for resale in Iraq. Two years later, he returned and established a trading company, sourcing Yiwu's small commodities for clients in Iraq, Iran, and other countries. His business thrived, and he became a foreign mediator and director of the Yiwu International Chamber of Commerce, making him a true Yiwu resident.
This year marks the third year in a row that Kamil has arranged for Iraqi merchants in Yiwu to participate in the blood donation event, joining dozens of foreigners from India, Yemen, Iraq, South Korea, Nepal, and other countries. This cross-border charity event, now in its ninth year, fosters friendships and integration between Chinese and foreign merchants.
Yiwu is one of the cities with the highest density of foreign merchants in China. Last year, over 360,000 foreign merchants visited Yiwu, with 15,600 residing there.
In the first half of this year, the number of entries and exits increased by 170 percent, with over 20,000 foreign merchants in Yiwu. They come from over 100 countries and regions, exporting 2.1 million types of goods to more than 230 countries and regions every year.
