The Overseas Exhibition & Investment Promotion Media Briefing for the 14th China International SME Fair (CISMEF) was held in Guangzhou on July 21. He Zuoxian, deputy director of the SME Bureau of Guangdong province and director of the Bureau of China International SME Fair, joined by Joanna Skoczek, consul-general of Poland in Guangzhou attended the conference.

The Overseas Exhibition & Investment Promotion Media Briefing of the 14th CISMEF is held in Guangzhou on July 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

He said the CISMEF is an international event which features the highest level, largest scale and most wide-ranging influence in the Asia-Pacific region and specially serves SMEs. Over the past 13 years, 16 countries and international organizations in Asia, Europe, Oceania, America (North America and South America) and Africa have been invited to host the exhibition, with its international influence growing year by year.

The 14th CISMEF will feature South Africa and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). With an exhibition area of more than 1,000 square meters, South Africa will appear with more than 70 characteristic enterprises in industries such as agriculture, and services, to promote and present distinctive local products, industrial investment environment and cultural customs. UNIDO will set up a special promotion area in the International Hall to popularize the knowledge of industry, and provide technical support and projects needed by SMEs.

Currently, 31 countries, regions and organizations have confirmed their participation and booked 1,028 booths, including South Africa, UNIDO, Egypt (first time), Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Greece, the UAE, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, Japan, Poland, Sri Lanka, Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Bulgaria, Iran, Nigeria, Germany, Indonesia, the USA, Spain, Australia, Qatar, Brazil, New Zealand, Israel, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.

Responding to the national strategy of opening up, the fair will host several international pavilions featuring the Belt and Road; China-Africa Cooperation Mechanism and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; Africa pavilion; Central and Eastern Europe pavilion; Middle East pavilion and Hong Kong; and the Macao & Taiwan pavilion will be set up to present distinctive products and quality services.

A wide range of practical events, such as the second Asia-Europe SME Financing Seminar, SME Cross-border Matchmaking Seminar and Business Promotion of Overseas Exhibition Groups and Purchase Presentation, will be held concurrently to build a capital, technology and intelligence networking platform for Chinese and foreign SMEs.

With 6,000 standard booths and an exhibition area of 150,000 square meters, the 14th CISMEF is hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, the State Administration for Industry & Commerce, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Department of Small Business Development of South Africa and UNIDO.

Domestic and international exhibitions will be held at Poly World Trade Center Expo, Guangzhou, Guangdong rovince from Oct 10 to 13. Specialized exhibitions will be held at Guangdong Tanzhou International Convention & Exhibition Center, Shunde district, Foshan in two periods, with Intelligent Manufacturing and "Internet +" Exhibition held from Oct 12 to 15, Intelligent Building and Smart Home Exhibition, Energy Conservation Exhibition from Oct 20 to 23.

He Zuoxian, deputy director of the SME Bureau of Guangdong province and director of the Bureau of China International SME Fair, delivers a speech at the Overseas Exhibition & Investment Promotion Media Briefing of the 14th CISMEF. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]