The 14th China International Small and Medium Enterprise Fair, opening on Oct 10 in Guangzhou, has according to its organizers boosted partnerships and communications between global SMEs.

The annual fair - held in the Poly World Trade Center Expo in the capital of Guangdong province in southern China - aims to advance comprehensive strategic partnerships and promote the inclusive and sustainable development of SMEs in China and in other countries.

Zhang Feng, Party committee member and chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said the event was a bridge to help Chinese SMEs to go global and for foreign SMEs to access Chinese markets.

"With the new technology revolution and industry transformation, SMEs are facing new development opportunities," Zhang said.

Yuan Baocheng, vice-governor of Guangdong, said SMEs contributed significantly to the transformation and upgrading of Guangdong's industries.

"Guangdong will reduce the costs of managing companies, support the transformation of technology and promote the construction of services-oriented government, to provide a good developing environment for SMEs," Yuan said.

The massive fair is being hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology - as well as the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Guangdong government, the department of Small Business Development in South Africa and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

Organizers said this year's event has attracted 6,282 exhibition stands for 2,925 global companies from South Africa, Egypt, India and more than 30 countries and regions, to display their products.

Serving as a co-host of the fair for the first time, South Africa has brought over more than 50 companies - covering services, agriculture, renewable energy, tourism, jewelry and the food sectors - to showcase the diverse nature of its economy.

Under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, the joint hosting of the event is seen further promoting practical partnerships between China and South Africa in industry, trade and economics.

South Africa's Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu, said her country's participation in the fair was a tribute to its entrepreneurs who lobbied hard.

"It is a significant milestone in our collective journey towards building a nation of entrepreneurs," she added.

caoyingying@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/13/2017 page5)