SHANGHAI, Oct. 22 -- Shanghai has designated 49 platforms for exhibitions and trade of imported goods to serve the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the municipal government announced Tuesday.

The platforms were designated to expand the benefits brought by CIIE so that import exhibitions and trades can be available to businesses permanently.

The first batch of 31 trading platforms has imported around 75.2 billion yuan (10.63 billion U.S. dollars) of commodities after the first CIIE last November, up 108 percent year on year.

To facilitate the second CIIE which will take place from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, another 18 companies have been added to the list of trading platforms, bringing the total number to 49.

The newly-joined platforms include an innovation center for senior care and a national pavilion to showcase Greek products all year round.