GUANGZHOU: The annual China International Small and Medium Enterprise Fair (CISMEF) plays an important role for Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to better participate in the global market, said a senior official with the Guangdong economic and trade authority.

Citing the success of the past two sessions, Liu Xiaojie, vice-director of the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Trade Commission, said the annual CISMEF has also helped domestic SMEs enhance cooperation with their overseas counterparts.

"The organizing committee has done well in the previous two sessions, which helped Chinese SMEs better integrate into the international market," said Liu, who is also an official with the organizing committee.

This year's fair will be held from September 15 to 18 at the Guangzhou International Exhibition and Convention Center (Pazhou Complex) in the capital of South China's Guangdong Province.

Growing stature

The annual fair has won international recognition since its debut, with the number of overseas visitors increasing from 118,000 in 2004 to 210,000 last year, said Liu.

"The ever-increasing number of international visitors will help boost the fair's reputation. Chinese SMEs, in turn, will see opportunities to cooperate with international businesses."

At the first session, more than 2,000 domestic and overseas SMEs gathered in Guangzhou, signing 13,600 projects running into $3.9 billion, sources with the organizing committee said.

The number of domestic and overseas participants increased to 3,682 at the second session, which was also held in conjunction with the French-Sino Small and Medium Enterprise Fair.

A total of 160 SMEs involving 13 industrial sectors from France and 198,000 visitors from more than 70 countries and regions were present at the second session, which saw 23,000 projects being signed.

Foreign hand

Last year's session, which saw the presence of the Italian prime minister as it was held in parallel with the Sino-Italian SMEs Fair, attracted more than 900 overseas enterprises.

"We are now seeking cooperation with a foreign country to sponsor this year's fair as the last two sessions with sponsorships from France and Italy proved a success," Liu said.

Liu said Chinese SMEs, which account for 99 percent of the total enterprises, plays an important role in the nation's growth.

"With more participation in the global market, they will contribute more to the nation's economic development," Liu said, adding that this year's fair will expand its scale, with 5,000 standard exhibition booths to be set up.

The exhibition hall will be divided into several sections, which will include textile and clothing, shoes, caps and trunks, toys and craftwork, food and medicine, household electrical appliances, electronics, machinery, furniture, lamps, ceramics and building materials.

To promote "Made in China" brands in the global market, the upcoming fair will set up a "Chinese Brand Pavilion" for top Chinese SMEs.

In terms of financing services for SMEs, Liu said the fair would set up a financing consultation and negotiation center, where domestic financial institutions will promote their services targeting SMEs.

(China Daily 04/14/2007 page7)

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)