the 9th apec small and medium enterprises technology conference and fair, also known as apec technology fair, will be held at the shenzhen convention and exhibition center from tomorrow to saturday, according to a press conference held by the fair's organizers yesterday.
the apec technology fair is a cooperation project carried out by china under the apec framework, which aims to provide a platform for apec member economies to display their new technology and products and promote technological exchange and cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (smes) of apec member economies.
the fair is jointly sponsored by the ministry of industry and information technology and the shenzhen municipal government. zhang xiaofeng, deputy head of the ministry's promotion center for smes, said 1,126 enterprises domestic and abroad will attend the fair, with 1,665 exhibition booths to be set up.
zhang said one main forum and seven parallel forums featuring technology innovation and intelligent manufacture are scheduled. apart from the main venue at the shenzhen convention and exhibition center, four sub-venues — one in longgang district and three in nanshan district — will highlight robotic products, intelligent hardware and maker projects.
"this year's fair will structure an exchange platform for smes from apec member economies to share their resources, experiences and information," zhang said, adding that the best sme innovation practices of 30 enterprises will be unveiled during the fair.
cai wenqin, the shenzhen government's deputy secretary general, said 12 fortune global 500 companies, such as intel and samsung, will also attend the fair in order to interface with smes. he said a matchmaking area will be set up at the fair's main venue to facilitate exhibitors looking for potential clients, investors or business partners.
cai said there are over 1.28 million smes, 5,000 high-tech enterprises, 1,000 innovation bases and 320 listed companies based in shenzhen. "shenzhen is like a fertile ground of innovation and a cradle of startups. the city is capable of making this fair a great success," he said.
