China to Host 32nd APEC SME Ministerial Meeting in Guangzhou

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that the 32nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting will convene in Guangzhou on September 4 under the theme 'Innovation-driven, Win-win Cooperation.' Alongside the ministerial talks, Guangzhou will host the 62nd APEC SME Working Group Meeting and the 21st China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair, drawing over 2,100 domestic and overseas exhibitors representing all APEC member economies to facilitate cross-border trade, technology sharing, and supply chain alignment.

Small and medium-sized enterprises represent the bulk of business activity and employment across the Asia-Pacific. Amid macroeconomic headwinds, technological shifts, and trade restructuring, establishing harmonized policies on digital transformation and market access offers crucial institutional support for regional supply chain stability.

The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting is scheduled to take place on September 4 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, according to announcements by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Organized around the theme "Innovation-driven, Win-win Cooperation," the ministerial meeting will bring together heads of SME regulatory authorities from APEC member economies, representatives from the APEC Secretariat, and industry leaders. According to MIIT Vice Minister Ke Jixin, the forum aims to deepen policy exchanges, enhance regional innovation capacities, and accelerate the digital and sustainable transformation of small businesses across the Asia-Pacific. Liang Zhifeng, Director General of the SME Bureau at MIIT, stated that discussions will center on technological innovation, digital and intelligent empowerment, and inclusive growth. Officials intend to work toward a joint ministerial statement outlining practical areas of collaboration. Chinese organizers also plan to leverage APEC SME Week and associated forums to facilitate direct technical, project, and market matchmaking among enterprises. In tandem with the ministerial dialogue, Guangzhou will host several companion events, including the 62nd APEC SME Working Group Meeting and the 21st China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF). The fair will feature specialized sessions covering innovation ecosystems, cross-border investment, and sustainable development alongside corporate field visits. According to Guangdong Vice Governor Wang Sheng, preparations are essentially complete, with all APEC member economies confirming their participation. More than 2,100 domestic and foreign enterprises have registered for the concurrent trade fair, occupying over 3,900 exhibition booths. Among these, more than 500 overseas enterprises from over 40 countries, regions, and international organizations are slated to exhibit products across smart technology, biomedicine, and cross-border services. Ke noted that MIIT has established 22 bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms focused on SMEs, connecting with approximately 50 countries to maintain regular communication channels for cross-border commerce and project alignment.