An intelligent robot operates a machine during the 12th China International Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Fair in Guangzhou, October 2015. [Photo/IC]

For the first time, the 13th China International Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Fair, to be held in October in Guangzhou, will have an African country as a co-host.

The fair is being organized by the Cote d'Ivoire Ministry of Commerce along with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the Guangdong provincial government.

At a news press conference in Beijing on Friday, officials said SMEs from Cote d'Ivoire will participate in the fair to promote the country's goods and culture.

Feng Fei, vice-minister of the industry and information technology ministry, said having an African co-host for the first time will further the event's international influence.

Yuan Baocheng, vice-governor of Guangdong, said this year's fair, which is slated to have 4,600 booths in an exhibition area of around 100,000 square meters in size, will include a new exhibition area to bridge SMEs and cross-border e-commerce businesses.

Exhibitions on textiles, clothing and energy conservation will be held at the Poly World Trade Center Expo from Oct 10 to 13.

The Guangzhou International Sourcing Center will host an exhibition on construction materials and home furnishings from Oct 16 to 20. A show on manufacturing and equipment will be held from Oct 24 to 27.