A series of exhibitions took place in the DPRK this year, which is of key significance in achieving the five-year strategic goals for national economic development, giving strong impetus to improving the people’s living standards.

The spring national footwear exhibition-2019 held in March was followed by the autumn national footwear show-2019, the 30th national consumer goods exhibition and the 12th Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 commodity exhibition.

The national cosmetics show and the international agriculture and foodstuff exhibition were the first of their kinds in the country.

Many units presented lots of products in various kinds to the exhibitions, during which sci-tech presentations were given to provide a window of opportunity to learn valuable technical innovation plans and achievements made in scientific research to develop new products.

Characteristic of all these shows are the incomparably rapid increase in the kinds of products as against before and improved quality of consumer goods popular with a wide range of consumers.

“The first footwear show in October last year taught us again how high consumer demand for homemade products is and what we have to do to satisfy it. So we worked harder to develop products favoured by the people,” said Jo Myong Sik, chief engineer of the Wonsan Leather Shoes Factory, after participating in the spring national footwear show.

The autumn national footwear show drew lots of visitors every day as the exhibits grew more diversified in kind and stylish and had higher quality than the spring event.

“In the previous show actors and actresses and doctors asked for shoes they could wear on stages or at hospitals,” said an official of the Sinuiju Leather Shoes Factory. “We have exhibited leather shoes for them and these are in great demand.”

An official from the Haeju Leather Shoes Factory said they exhibited flat-sole leather shoes for the old people as they came to know at the spring show that they wanted such ones. They are very popular, he said, adding the factory would focus on making shoes lighter.

From the first days of opening, the exhibitions were crowded with visitors, who felt proud of homemade products which grow more diversified in kind, style, colour and other aspects.

A woman visitor from Mangyongdae District to the footwear show said the Maebongsan-brand shoes were so diversified in kind that it took her an hour to look round them and she bought shoes for her and all other family members as well.

The Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory presented lotion, cream, nutritive emulsion and many other cosmetics which help brighten face, remove freckles and pimples, screen ultraviolet rays and retard ageing by using natural functional materials.

The international agriculture and foodstuff exhibition in November was an important occasion for stimulating the improvement of the people’s living standards and promoting economic and trade dealings, scientific and technological exchanges and multilateral cooperation between nations in the fields of agriculture and foodstuff industry.

Modern multi-purpose farm machines, seeds of good vegetable species, fertilizers, agrochemicals and various kinds of health foods on show attracted interest of many visitors.

Most popular with local and foreign visitors were dozens of kinds of Kaesong Koryo insam products.

At the closing ceremonies diplomas, medals and certificates were awarded to units and products highly appreciated at the exhibitions.