In September 2026, the 21st China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) kicked off grandly in Guangzhou. Coinciding with the APEC "Year of China," the fair was held concurrently with the 32nd APEC Ministers Responsible for Small and Medium Enterprises Meeting. While one focuses on macro-level policy dialogue and the other on micro-level enterprise exhibition, trading, and cooperation, these two heavyweight platforms have, for the first time, achieved an integrated conference and exhibition format in Guangzhou, building a bridge across vast distances for global SMEs. With a total exhibition area of approximately 85,000 square meters, the fair attracted over 2,000 domestic and international enterprises and featured more than 3,700 booths, demonstrating strong international appeal and industrial vitality.
In the International Zone and the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Zone, 718 booths brought together 510 enterprises from over 40 countries and regions, as well as international organizations. The diverse exhibits span multiple cutting-edge and traditional fields, including intelligent technology, biomedicine, cross-border services, specialty consumer goods, high-end food, and light industry and cultural creativity. Notably, all APEC member economies participated in the fair, with the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises of Indonesia and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization serving as Guests of Honor, further highlighting the event's international influence and the value of multilateral cooperation.
At the fair, new and familiar faces mingled as innovative achievements emerged one after another. Zong Di, Chairman of Yanjingxing Innovation and Technology Group, is attending CISMEF for the 20th time. As a "veteran" exhibitor for 20 consecutive editions, he returned this year with AI-enabled premium products. Zong pointed out that artificial intelligence is profoundly changing people's living and working habits, continuously unleashing new productive forces. He specifically emphasized that AI is effectively addressing the talent shortages faced by SMEs. His AI-enabled products help SMEs realize creative designs through AI, significantly reducing their reliance on traditional designers or assistants. According to Zong, the very first day of the fair attracted prospective clients and facilitated registrations. He frankly stated that his "small goal" for this edition is to secure letters of intent totaling 100 million RMB.
In the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Zone, Lin Hui, Chairwoman of Macau Liangzhuang Xiangyunsha Culture Co., Ltd., embarked on her fifth CISMEF journey. This year, she meticulously brought the "Su Shan" and "Ning Jing" apparel collections, along with the "Mo Chi" fabric collection featuring upgraded craftsmanship. This fabric innovatively uses eco-friendly pigments to repeatedly print painters' artworks on water, presenting a unique artistic effect. Additionally, products such as bamboo-woven Xiangyunsha silk handbags and hand-embroidered scarves, developed in collaboration with a rural revitalization project in Guizhou, attracted numerous visitors. On the morning of the opening day, Lin's booth secured orders with a per-transaction value exceeding 10,000 RMB. Looking to the future, she has three clear aspirations: exporting Chinese Xiangyunsha silk to overseas designers; finding distribution agencies with overseas channels for cooperative distribution; and partnering with renowned galleries or art institutions at home and abroad to promote art paintings based on Xiangyunsha silk, thereby advancing Chinese culture onto the international stage. Having exhibited for five consecutive years, Lin also suggested that the platform should strengthen cross-sector integration in the future, such as combining AI with the apparel industry to have robots wear Xiangyunsha silk on the runway.
In another corner of the International Zone, Al-Hababi Amr Ali Hussein, Sales Manager of Yemeni Arabian Handcrafts Co., Ltd., was enthusiastically introducing Arabic-style handicrafts to visitors. Making his CISMEF debut, his booth featured specialty products like Arabian magic lamps. Al-Hababi noted that he came to Guangzhou to showcase Arab-style products, allowing Chinese consumers who appreciate foreign goods to gain a deeper understanding of their merchandise. On the first day of the fair, he successfully secured letters of intent. This exhibitor from the distant Arabian Peninsula is a vivid testament to the international appeal of CISMEF. From Yemen to Guangzhou, the fair is closely connecting global business opportunities.
The international influence of CISMEF is reflected not only in the breadth of participating countries but also in the deep engagement and tangible gains of the exhibitors. To address the pain points of SMEs in financing, talent, and market access, this year's fair hosted over 60 concurrent events centered on policy promotion, new product launches, international cooperation, industrial matchmaking, and innovation empowerment. The exhibition zones featured distinct highlights, with specialties from around the world converging here, including Indonesia's dedicated 1,300-square-meter pavilion, Pisco—Peru's national spirit, and New Zealand's high-end seafood and wool products, fully showcasing the diverse vitality of global SMEs.
After more than two decades of development, CISMEF has long transcended being a mere product showcase, evolving into a multidimensional platform for policy dialogue, technological exchange, and cultural mutual learning. Here, AI-enabled innovations converse with traditional intangible cultural heritage; Arabian magic lamps and Xiangyunsha silk complement each other; and the ambition to "go global" and the sincerity to "bring in" converge in a two-way engagement. As the policy guidance of the APEC ministerial meeting and the market practices of CISMEF resonate in sync in Guangzhou, a more open, inclusive, and pragmatic landscape for global SME cooperation is unfolding. With the surging tides of the Pearl River bridging the vastest mountains and seas, CISMEF is embracing more precise matchmaking, broader promotion, and a more global vision, enabling SMEs worldwide to find their stage here and allowing global cooperation to meet the future here.