Seastar, a leather brand in Bangkok, is preparing for the 12th China-ASEAN Expo in South China's Nanning from Sept 18 to 21.

The sales value of Seastar at each expo was 1 million Thai Baht ($28,900), and demand for their products usually exceeded supply, said Huang Mei, manager of the company.

In recent years, as the China-ASEAN Expo enlarged its influence, more and more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hope to open the Chinese market.

With an annual output of 1 million products worth 120 million Thai Baht, Seastar is one of the Thai SMEs looking for Chinese agents through the China-ASEAN Expo. The company produces leather from crocodile, snake and fish skin, to make luggage, wristbands, watchbands and other crafts.

Most of the company's products are sold to European and American countries, but now the market is stagnant, Huang added. "We are optimistic about the Chinese economy with its high pace of growth," she said.