Photo: Nanfang Plus
The inaugural Belt and Road SME Economic and Trade Exchange Conference will take place from May 28 to 30, featuring a main venue in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and a parallel session in Macao, according to officials at a press conference on March 17. The event is designed to serve as a new international trade platform to help small and medium-sized enterprises expand overseas.
Organizers said the event will serve as a full-chain platform linking online and offline resources between Hengqin and Macao, with a central forum releasing an action plan, white paper and joint initiative, and launching service alliances and digital platforms alongside project signings. Five parallel forums will cover outbound services, technology, finance, traditional Chinese medicine and culture and tourism, policy briefings, case studies and one-on-one consultations.
Six practical scenarios, including cross-border e-commerce live-streams, AI supply-demand matching, digital currency trials and virtual exhibitions, will help companies tackle overseas expansion challenges, while long-term mechanisms such as regular matchmaking, talent development and information updates provide ongoing support.
More than 1,000 Chinese SMEs and 1,000 overseas buyers and business associations are expected to attend. Organizers estimate that on-site agreements could exceed 5 billion yuan (around $700 million). Around 100 companies are expected to establish a presence in Hengqin, alongside the formation of a cross-border SME service alliance uniting providers across the supply chain.
Reporter: Zeng Xiangxing
