Attendees explore products and forge business partnerships at the 19th CISMEF. (Photo: Zeng Xiangxing)

The 19th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) concluded in Guangzhou on November 18. Spanning over four days, the event drew over 12,0000 visitors, with more than 10,000 buyers in attendance. It generated an estimated annual transaction volume close to 100 billion yuan.

The fair highlighted the growing importance of high-quality development for SMEs. Nearly 2,000 enterprises from 37 countries and regions exhibited their products and innovations across over 2,800 booths.

Attendees explore products and forge business partnerships at the 19th CISMEF. (Photo: Zeng Xiangxing)

Notable industry sectors included advanced equipment, robotics, biomedicine, and high-end medical devices. Among the exhibitors were 66 national-level manufacturing champions and 450 "Little Giant" SMEs (a national-level recognition of SMEs recognized for their specialized expertise), showcasing their specialized innovations and underscoring the fair's focus on technological excellence and digital transformation.

Beyond product showcases, the fair hosted over 60 supporting events that contributed to practical business collaborations and also debuted 30 innovations from 60 exhibitors.

Attendees explore products and forge business partnerships at the 19th CISMEF. (Photo: Zeng Xiangxing)

During the 4-day fair, leading enterprises pledged to procure over 96 billion yuan worth of SME products by 2025. Large corporations outlined 151 innovation requirements, creating collaboration opportunities. Financing events secured over 1 billion yuan for SME R&D and upgrades, while cross-sector and international promotion agreements totaled 70 million yuan. Provincial and municipal promotion events added 150 million yuan, with Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan zones contributing 60 million yuan in deals.

The 20th CISMEF is scheduled to take place from June 27 to 30 in 2025, coinciding with the 9th Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day designated by the United Nations.