Intelligence, energy-saving and innovation will be the main themes at the coming 13th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF).

He Zuoxian, deputy director-general of Guangdong SME Bureau and director-general of the Bureau of CISMEF, said the fair, which will open in Guangzhou in October, will further promote the innovation-driven development of SMEs as well as provide a good platform for them to display, trade, exchange and expand cooperation.

"As we know, China's economic growth has entered into a new normal, indicating the development has shifted from scale and speed to quality and efficiency," He told a press conference in Guangzhou in early September.

"Under the country's new normal economic development pattern, SMEs face both opportunities and challenges," he said.

He urged domestic SMEs to further upgrade their technology and production to meet the challenges.

"That requires SMEs to attach great importance to boosting their innovation-driven development and expanding intelligent manufacturing and energy-saving production," He said .

To promote this, the 13th CISMEF will set up special exhibition halls for intelligent manufacturing and equipment, intelligent textiles and garment, intelligent building materials and furniture, and energy-saving technologies and equipment, plus a crossborder e-commerce exhibition.

"The fair is expected to play a role in boosting innovation-driven development for SMEs that are eager to expand via scientific and technological innovation and Sino-foreign cooperation," He said.

He said he is expecting SMEs at home and abroad to spare no efforts to increase their cooperation with foreign counterparts during the fair.

To help SMEs achieve these goals, business leader summits, forums and lectures on innovation of science and technologies, and trade talks will be held during the fair.

The Chinese government attaches special importance to the development of the country's myriad SMEs which are playing an increasingly important role in the mainland's economic growth and providing millions of employment opportunities, He said.

According to He, preparation for the 13th CISMEF is well underway, with most of the exhibition booths having been booked by SMEs from home and abroad a month in advance.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Guangdong provincial government, the Ministry of Commerce of Cote d'Ivoire and the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of India, the 13th CISMEF will take place in Guangzhou's Poly World Trade Center Expo and Guangzhou International Sourcing Center. These halls offer more than 100,000 square meters of floor space and will host more than 4,600 standard booths.

The first stage will be held in the city's Poly World Trade Center Expo from October 10 to 13, while the second and third stages will take place in Guangzhou International Sourcing Center between October 16 and 20, and from October 24 to 27.

More than 3,000 SMEs from the Chinese mainland and more than 30 countries and regions around the world will participate in the event this year. 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 foreign counterparts at the previous event.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/06/2016 page17)