Guangzhou-based Sino-Africa Bridge Expo Service Co, which helps Chinese companies exhibit at trade shows in Africa, plans to put on an exhibition of its own in the Democratic Republic of Congo next year.

"Self-organized exhibitions are the way to go because they generate higher margins," says Pan Jiajia, general manager of the company.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has rich natural resources and a population of nearly 72 million, but it is also underdeveloped with few processing companies, he says.