The China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) has served as a platform for international exhibitors to find global cooperation partners and tap into the huge Chinese market, according to international businesspeople attending the 20th edition of the CISMEF in Guangzhou, the capital city of south China's industrial powerhouse of Guangdong Province.
Amongst participating foreign countries, Egypt, with the largest pavilion and the presence of more than 80 exhibiting companies, has not only presented exquisite handicrafts, but also displayed their advanced manufacturing technology.
"We see the competition, it's a fair competition. We see the technology, also the green economy and the technology in all the products. So we are happy to be here," said Basel Rahmi, head of the Egyptian delegation and CEO of Egyptian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA).
Many foreign companies, which are participating in CISMEF for the first time, said they hope to use the event as an opportunity to explore markets around the world, especially the Chinese one.
"For us it is the first time that we have come to China to an exhibition, because we really think that the Chinese market is a super important market. And [for] all the Chinese people, I really think that they take special care of the design, that I really think that it's an amazing opportunity for us," said Alejandro Albiol, a Spanish exhibitor.
This year's CISMEF has brought together more than 500 companies from more than 50 countries and regions around the world including Egypt, Canada and Spain. For the first time, it has set up exhibition areas dedicated to overseas home furnishings and overseas clothing culture.
Many innovative technologies have also been unveiled and new products have made debut at the event.
"For SMEs which want to participate in global industrial and trade cooperation, they need both a favorable local environment and effective connections at the international level. The CISMEF provides a good platform to promote global dialogue, business matching and policy exchanges, helping developing countries' SMEs to connect with the international market and boost innovation," said Zou Ciyong, deputy to director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
At the fair, "ChinaSME", a dedicated service website, officially launched an "Overseas Services" section, with major functions of offering companies with assistance in seeking business opportunities, obtaining information and programs, and matchmaking with industrial parks and institutions. "Next, we will continue to optimize and upgrade the platform's functions, and deepen online and offline coordination and international cooperation. Based on the actual needs of enterprises, we will accelerate the construction of an overseas service-focused large language model that integrates services of policies, laws, tariffs, risk prevention and control, cross-border finance, and overseas product price forecasts, to build a world-leading international service ecosystem," said Fan Yinghui, director of the international cooperation department at the China Center for Promotion of SME Development.
The 20th CISMEF opened on Friday and will last through Monday.
The annual China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair is currently the country's largest and most prestigious international event, specifically designed to serve SMEs in China.
International exhibitors praise China's SME fair for business opportunities
