The United States Shanghai 2010 World Expo team launched a dual online initiative yesterday.

A Website will offer Shanghai Expo-themed clothes and souvenirs and at the same time is seeking donations to help finance the construction and operations of its pavilion at next year's Expo.

The US now has two-thirds of its US$61 million budget.

The team is accepting donations from individuals and corporations via the Website, according to Frank Lavin, chairman of the Steering Committee of the Shanghai 2010 World Expo USA Pavilion.

"It is a bit difficult to predict how successful it might be, but it would not be unusual for thousands of individual Americans to eventually contribute," Lavin said.

People can buy items and donate at http://usapavilion2010store.com. The store offers dozens of items which can be shipped anywhere in the world.

Items include T-shirts with "USA 2010 Shanghai Expo," the Chinese characters of "Shanghai" and the logo of the USA Pavilion featuring an ear of wheat in blue and red. T-shirts retail for US$18.95.

Other products include drinking vessels, pins, caps and bags ranging in price from US$5 to US$70.

Pavilion President Nick Winslow urged people to buy the products to show support for the USA Pavilion.

"The money the USA Pavilion received from each sale goes entirely to support the pavilion," he said.

The USA Pavilion is the first to open an online store among all participating countries at the Shanghai event.

Pavilion construction will be finished by the end of the year, Shanghai US Consul General Beatrice Camp has said, adding that the American team is confident of meeting the budget target on time.

(Shanghai Daily September 17, 2009)