​The China International SME Expo (CIESME)

The China International SME Expo (abbreviated as CIESME), established in 2004 with the approval of the State Council of China, is hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Held annually in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, it has successfully convened 20 editions to date and is an international exhibition certified by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI).

In early April 2019, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Healthy Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises", explicitly stating support for SMEs' external cooperation and exchanges, and continuing to organise the China International SME Expo.

The China SME Expo operates on a non-profit basis, combining government promotion with market-driven operations. It aims to establish a platform for domestic and international SMEs to showcase, transact, exchange, and collaborate, thereby strengthening cooperation, expanding exchanges, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and fostering joint development. This initiative promotes exchanges and cooperation between Chinese SMEs and their counterparts in other countries and regions worldwide, thereby advancing the healthy development of SMEs. The China SME Expo stands as the Asia-Pacific region's most prestigious, largest-scale, and most influential international gathering for SMEs, consistently receiving widespread acclaim from numerous nations. Since the second edition in 2005, the Expo has adopted a co-hosting mechanism, inviting countries and organisations including France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Australia, Thailand, Russia, Ecuador, Vietnam, Indonesia, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, Mexico, Malaysia, Côte d'Ivoire, India, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Additionally, the exhibition participation mechanisms for ASEAN+6 members and the Central and Eastern European 16 countries have enabled SMEs from broader sectors and more nations to join the CIFS, providing invaluable business opportunities for mutual learning and collaborative exchange among SMEs worldwide.

Beyond the standard exhibition and trading functions, the CIFS also serves as an effective cooperative platform for the Chinese and participating governments to promote SME development. Chinese organisers announce policy measures to support SME development at the fair, while jointly hosting events of mutual interest with co-organising countries, such as SME policy dialogues, to exchange experiences and practices in SME support. Governments showcase various platforms and systems serving SMEs, including training and financing services. Organisers also invite embassies and consulates to attend, facilitating discussions on key challenges and opportunities in SME development.

China's economy maintains steady and relatively rapid growth, boasting vast markets and substantial consumer potential. Investing and trading in China has become a fervent aspiration for SMEs worldwide, with the CIFIT platform offering significant opportunities for enterprises from all nations.

The host province of CIFIT, Guangdong, situated at China's southern tip, stands as a frontier province in the nation's reform and opening-up. Over four decades, Guangdong has pursued reform and opening-up with pioneering spirit, achieving globally recognised accomplishments across all fronts of economic and social development.