SMEs aiming big at Guangzhou fair

Chinese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are being urged to use the upcoming 13th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) as an opportunity to expand Sino-foreign cooperation and increase their presence in the global market.

"CISMEF, which has become the largest trade and cooperative fair for Sino-foreign SMEs on the Chinese mainland, has built a big platform and domestic SMEs should seize the opportunity (it ofers)," said Tian Chuan, deputy director-general of the SME Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

"The fair, which is held in Guangzhou every fall, is attracting a growing number of foreign participants," Tian said at a media briefing in Guangdong's provincial capital on Thursday.

According to Tian, more than 1,000 booths scheduled for foreign participants have been booked so far, two months in advance of the fair.

Participants from a range of countries including Cote d'Ivoire, Bulgaria, the United Arab Emirates and Myanmar will attend the fair for the first time to seek improved cooperation with Chinese companies.

"The growing number of new participants demonstrates the fair's increasing influence for SMEs to seek Sino-foreign cooperation and technological upgrading," Tian said.

Bulgarian companies will mainly display cosmetics, clothing, shoes, bags, toys, arts and crafts, medicines, household appliances, electronic technologies, machines, furniture and building materials in more than 20 booths to seek increased sales in the vast market and expand their cooperation with Chinese companies.

In addition, more than 20 SMEs from the UAE will showcase their food and beverages, fashion designs, and media and education resources to explore the business and cooperation opportunities on ofer in the Chinese market.

"Huge business opportunities have been created, and both foreign and domestic SMEs should grasp the opportunities and spare no effort (to expand Sino-foreign cooperation)," Tian added.

He Zuoxian, deputy director-general of the Guangdong SME Bureau and director-general of the Bureau of CISMEF, said the Chinese government attaches extra importance to the development of the country's numerous SMEs, which are playing an increasingly important role in the mainland's economic growth and providing increasing employment opportunities.

He pledged that his bureau, working with other relevant departments, will provide an improved service to the SMEs attending this year's fair.

Patrick Ng, committee member of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce and head of the Malaysian Delegation, said the Malaysian government is organizing an even larger delegation to attend this year's fair, and will bring more products than before to increase sales in the mainland market and expand cooperation during this years' fair.

Frank Wang, a senior executive with the Taiwan Entertainment and Digital Communication Technology Association and head of the Taiwan Delegation, said CISMEF has allowed its SMEs to expand their presence in the mainland market.

To help SMEs enhance Sino-foreign cooperation, special trade talks, forums and lectures will also be organized during the fair. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of India and the Ministry of Commerce of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, the 13th CISMEF will take place in Guangzhou's POLY World Trade Center Expo and Guangzhou International Sourcing Center, which cover a combined floor space of more than 100,000 square meters and can accommodate more than 4,600 international standard booths. The first stage of the fair will take place at the city's POLY World Trade Center Expo from Oct 10 to 13, while the second and third phases will happen at the Guangzhou International Sourcing Center from Oct 16 to 20, and from Oct 24 to 27 respectively.

More than 3,000 SMEs from the Chinese mainland, more than 25 countries and regions around the world will participate in this year's event. The fair was first held in Guangzhou in 2004. Chinese SMEs signed about 30 billion yuan (4.6 billion) worth of business and cooperative contracts with their foreign counterparts at last year's fair.

For more information please call 8620-83137646, or log on to www.cismef.com.cn

(China Daily 08/01/2016 page5)