The press conference for the 15th China International SME Fair (15th CISMEF) was held in Guangzhou on Oct 8. The 15th CISMEF will be held on Oct 10 and is being hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration of Market Regulation and the People's Government of Guangdong Province. The UAE Ministry of Economy, the UAE Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization have been invited as guests of honor.

Zhong Xuanhui, secretary-general of the CISMEF Organizing Committee and deputy secretary-general of the Guangdong Provincial Government, said that the 15th CISMEF, offering a total of 6,628 booths, has attracted 3,019 exhibitors from home and abroad. Among them, 2,351 domestic exhibitors will occupy 5,539 booths while 668 overseas exhibitors will occupy 1,089 booths. Thirty-nine foreign countries, regions and organizations will participate in the fair, including the United Arab Emirates, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Greece, Bulgaria and Russia.

During CISMEF, such forums as the China SME Summit, 2018 "Maker in China" Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition, Supply Chain Finance and SME Financing Forum, SME Informatization Application Promotion and Informatization Forums, SMEs Cross-border Business Matchmaking Activity, 2018 Special Actions of the Belt and Road - Walking into Middle East and Asia-Pacific Information and Communication Technology Competition, and Cross-border E-commerce Leaders Summit will be held. Additionally, UAE, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Nepal, South Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan will hold nine special promotions and other activities.

Majid Khalid Almazuray, executive director of the Trade Promotion Department of the UAE Ministry of Economy, introduced the preparations the UAE had made for the 15th CISMEF. The deputy minister of the UAE Ministry of Economy will lead a delegation to attend the fair. Xiao Yun, deputy inspector of the Registration Bureau of the State Administration of Market Regulation, Zhou Jian, head of the Exchange and Cooperation Division of the SME Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Ma Jian, deputy representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in China, answered questions raised by reporters.

With a theme of "Intelligence, Wisdom, Smart Manufacturing, and Energy Conservation", the 15th CISMEF, covering an exhibition area of 150,000 square meters, will hold thematic exhibitions at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo from Oct 10 to 13.