Despite the impact of SARS,more than 47,000 foreign visitors came to Yiwu during the first 11 months of 2003. Over 5,000 expatri-ates from about 50 countries live in Yiwu, with the largest group coming from the Middle East. Overseas business representative offices set up in the city now exceed 200. Yiwu is in the process of transforming to an export-oriented economy with the United Arab Emirates, Russia, US, Korea and Ukraine as its five top export destinations.