On June 20, a press conference for the 16th China International SME Fair (CISMEF) was held in Guangzhou. Wu Hong, deputy director-general of the secretariat of the CISMEF Organizing Committee and deputy director-general of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province, gave a briefing on the preparations for the event.

Those that attended the conference included: Ye Dingda，deputy director-general of the secretariat of the CISMEF Organizing Committee and deputy director-general of the SME Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Pan Lifen, deputy director-general of the Department of Certification Administration, State Administration for Market Regulation; and Zaimah Osman, Trade Consul of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou. The conference was presided over by Deng Hong, deputy director-general of the Information Office of the People's Government of Guangdong.

The 16th CISMEF will open on June 23. The event is co-hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the People's Government of Guangdong Province, with Malaysia and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization acting as the co-host country and organization. The theme exhibition will be held in Area A of Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou from June 24-27.

Offering a total of 7,315 booths, the 16th CISMEF has attracted 2,960 exhibitors from home and abroad to take part. Among them, 2,310 domestic exhibitors will take up 6,253 booths while 650 overseas exhibitors will take up 1,062 booths. Thirty-eight countries, regions, and international organizations will attend the fair.

A press conference for the 16th China International SME Fair (CISMEF) is held in Guangzhou on June 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The CISMEF Organizing Committee has facilitated buyers in visiting, business negotiation, and purchasing through trade associations, professional investment promotion agencies, as well as online publicity and application and other means. Currently, more than 40,000 buyers have applied. During the fair, 45 forums and activities will be arranged, including 10 major forums, five supporting activities for cross-border e-commerce exhibition, 13 matchmaking activities for domestic and foreign participants, as well as 17 business promotion activities for exhibition delegations.

Across China, 37 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) will send government and business delegations to the fair. Twenty-one cities in Guangdong province will send business delegations. More than 10,000 enterprises will attend the event for visits, business negotiations, and purchasing. Overseas attendees include official delegations from Fiji and 13 other countries and international organizations, as well as consulate generals of 27 countries in Guangzhou.

The 16th CISMEF features four highlights. First, it will set up the "Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative" pavilion and innovative services pavilion, seeking to establish a role model and resolve difficulties for the high-quality development of SMEs. Second, it will offer targeted forum promotion and matchmaking activities, aiming to offer policies and resources for the high-quality development of SMEs. Third, it will launch the on-line CISMEF, working to showcase the images and brands of SMEs for their high-quality development. Fourth, efforts will be made to enrich the content of international exchanges and cooperation, offering business opportunities for the high-quality development of SMEs.