People visit the 2018 Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada Trade Show at International Center in Toronto, Canada, on Aug. 20, 2018. The annual three-day event, which kicked off on Monday, is expected to draw over 500 exhibitors and 5,000 buyers from across the world. (Xinhua/Zou Zheng)

TORONTO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 3rd Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada (ATSC 2018) exhibition kicked off at Toronto International Center Monday.

The three-day ATSC 2018 show is sponsored by China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textile and Apparel (CCCT) and China's Jiangsu Trade Promotion Association.

The show covers an area of about 11,400 square meters, doubling in size from 2017 to include additional categories such as accessories, gift ware, home electronics, footwear, luggage and housewares and general merchandise.

Almost 600 booths line the show floor, featuring the latest and greatest trends and unique offerings in apparel and textile from more than 20 countries, including Canada, China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the Untied States, UK, Turkey, Switzerland, Spain, Nepal and Ukraine.

The show provides thousands of expected attendees with unprecedented networking and business opportunities with international suppliers on Canadian turf.

It is also a major feat for local businesses that are poised to benefit from making unprecedented connections and securing deals with top-rate international suppliers.

During the exhibition, more than 20 lectures and forums will be held, and world-renowned industry experts expected to explain business knowledge, fashion trends and trade trends to the audience.

Meanwhile, a three-day exhibition of Chinese brand goods also opened at the same hall of the center.

It covers an area of 3,000 square meters with 120 booths established in show hall of the international center. More than a hundred Chinese brand enterprises are showing their various products, which were highly praised by visitors.

Show managers have also announced their involvement in the first China Import EXPO, which is to take place in Shanghai on November 5-10 this year.

"This event provides an unprecedented opportunity for Canadians to introduce their brands into the Chinese market," said Jason Prescott, CEO of JP Communications, ATSC organizer and North America's leading publisher.