Representatives of 12 companies from Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province boarded a chartered plane for the United Arab Emirates on Dec 9, local media reported.

The representatives will participate in the China (UAE) International Trade Expo 2022.

This is the third business flight launched by Taizhou this year. The first two of such flights saw local companies travel to Europe where they secured intended deals worth $141 million.

Ni Ting, who serves as general manager of a craft and gift company in Taizhou, believes that the trip will help them secure more overseas orders.

Taizhou has promised to cover part of the costs incurred from taking part in exhibitions in foreign nations. To date, authorities have provided nearly 400 million yuan ($57 million) in subsidies to local companies to pay for expenses related to air tickets, insurance and booth fees, official data show.

Shao Haili, deputy head of the Taizhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, said that the city plans to send more than 2,000 companies to participate in overseas fairs in 2023.