Industrial Tech World Asia (ITWA)

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

MOQ (minimum order quantity)

The smallest order a supplier will accept for a quoted part or product. At a Shenzhen sourcing show, MOQ is the first number to pin down in a booth conversation, because quotations given for prototype quantities rarely hold at production volume.

2

FOB Shenzhen

Free On Board Shenzhen: the seller delivers goods cleared for export on board the vessel at a Shenzhen port (Yantian or Shekou), after which freight and insurance sit with the buyer. Compare FOB quotes against EXW and CIF terms before you treat two booth prices as equivalent.

3

Pro forma invoice (PI)

The document a Chinese supplier issues before production or before a deposit is paid, listing part numbers, quantity, unit price, lead time and payment terms. A PI is what you take back from ITWA Asia to your finance team; it is not the same as the commercial invoice used at customs.

4

OEM and ODM

OEM means the supplier builds to your drawing and brand; ODM means the supplier owns the design and you rebrand it. Shenzhen booths usually state which model applies, and the distinction drives tooling cost, exclusivity and how much of the IP you actually control.

5

Buyer badge and pre-registration

The trade pass issued to visitors who register in advance on the organiser site. Pre-registering for ITWA Asia normally shortens the on-site queue at the registration counter, and badges are typically personal and non-transferable.

6

Exhibitor directory

The searchable list of exhibiting companies, usually published on the organiser site weeks before opening and mirrored in the printed show guide. Build a shortlist from the directory and pre-book meetings rather than walking the halls cold across three days.

7

Lead retrieval and badge scanning

The system exhibitors use to capture a visitor's registration data with a scanner or app at the booth. If you exhibit at ITWA Asia, confirm with the organiser whether a scanner is rented on site or whether you should run your own CRM app.

8

M visa (China business visa)

The standard visa category for commercial and trade activities in mainland China, typically requiring an invitation letter from the Chinese host or exhibitor plus proof of itinerary. Ordinary tourist (L) visas are not the correct category for business meetings.

9

Visa-free transit (Guangdong)

China permits eligible nationalities to enter visa-free for a limited period when transiting through designated ports, and Guangdong ports including Shenzhen are part of that scheme. Eligibility, permitted area and duration are policy-dependent and change, so verify with the Chinese embassy or consulate for your passport before booking.

10

SZX (Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport)

The city's main international gateway, west of the Futian and Nanshan districts and connected to central Shenzhen by Metro Line 11 as well as taxi and ride-hailing. Most international visitors to ITWA Asia arrive through SZX or, for more long-haul routings, through Hong Kong (HKG).

11

Shenzhen Metro Line 1

The east-west metro line that serves the Convention & Exhibition Center station in the Futian exhibition district. Line 1 is the usual low-cost approach for badge-holding visitors staying in Futian or Luohu hotels.

12

DiDi

China's dominant ride-hailing app, available in English and linked to international cards. It is the practical alternative to hailing a street taxi after a long show day, and the fare is fixed in the app before pickup.

13

WeChat Pay and Alipay

The two mobile payment systems that cover almost every transaction in Shenzhen, from metro gates to booth coffee. Both accept foreign cards for international visitors after identity verification in the app, but set them up before you fly, since some verification steps need SMS to your home number.

14

Typhoon warning signal

Shenzhen's tropical cyclone alert scale, with signals 1, 3, 8, 9 and 10 escalating in severity; signal 8 and above typically closes schools and suspends some transport and outdoor activity. The season runs roughly May to November, so late-October travel plans should include a weather contingency.

15

ATA Carnet

A customs passport that lets you carry demonstration equipment or samples temporarily into China without paying duty, provided the goods are re-exported. Exhibitors bringing working machinery or demo units to ITWA Asia should confirm carnet acceptance with their freight forwarder well before shipping.

16

Canton Fair overlap

Guangzhou's twice-yearly Canton Fair holds its autumn sessions through October, roughly 100 km from Shenzhen. Late-October hotel occupancy and airfare in the Pearl River Delta can tighten because of that overlap, which is why ITWA Asia accommodation is best booked early rather than in the final fortnight.