What happened
A dedicated supply-demand matching event for Asia-Pacific small and medium-sized enterprises seeking digital-intelligence technologies and application scenarios was held on September 4 in Guangzhou as a supporting activity of the 21st China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair. It brought together government officials, international organization representatives, experts, scholars and business delegates from multiple Asia-Pacific economies to exchange views on frontier trends, cooperation paths and industrial practices in SME digital-intelligence transformation.
In his speech, Tan Jiebin, a second-level inspector at Guangdong's Department of Industry and Information Technology, characterized SMEs as both a broad market for digital technology applications and an important force for innovation. He said Guangdong, as a major manufacturing province and an open frontier, has been at the forefront of industrial digital-intelligence upgrading and will continue deepening practical cooperation with Asia-Pacific economies to create a better environment for SME transformation.
Thailand's Deputy Minister of Commerce, Dr. Kirida Bhaopichitr, a former senior economist at the Thailand Development Research Institute, delivered a keynote address drawing on Thai and Southeast Asian experience. She noted that Thailand is helping SMEs enter the Chinese market through e-commerce platforms, stressed that SME development and digital transformation should advance in tandem, and called for ASEAN-China cooperation to pursue balanced development and mutually beneficial outcomes. The Guangzhou Institute of Greater Bay Area also unveiled the 'Asia-Pacific SME Digital-Intelligence Cooperation Initiative' and a case collection report on regional SME digital-intelligence transformation.
Why it matters
The event signals a regional push to connect digital-technology providers with SMEs in need of practical digital-intelligence solutions, especially across borders. By involving government officials, experts and business representatives, it underscores the importance of policy alignment and multi-stakeholder collaboration in helping smaller companies navigate digital transformation.
The release of the cooperation initiative and the case collection could give Asia-Pacific SMEs a clearer playbook and strengthen the case for open, inclusive digital ecosystems. As countries like Thailand increasingly leverage platforms and cross-border partnerships, such exchanges may help narrow the digital divide and spread proven models across the region.
Key facts
The matching event took place in Guangzhou on September 4 as a sideline activity of the 21st China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair, now under way in the city.
The Guangzhou Institute of Greater Bay Area published an 'Asia-Pacific SME Digital-Intelligence Cooperation Initiative' and a case collection on regional SMEs' digital-intelligence technology and application scenarios.
Thailand's Deputy Minister of Commerce, Dr. Kirida Bhaopichitr, said Thailand is using e-commerce platforms to help SMEs enter the Chinese market and stressed the need for simultaneous SME development and digital transformation.
What to watch next
Whether the initiative's six proposed cooperation areas—spanning intelligent governance, industrial synergy, SME exchanges, sustainable development, talent cultivation and regularized mechanisms—evolve into concrete cross-border projects or ongoing dialogue platforms.
How the practical experiences highlighted in the case collection, including Thailand's e-commerce-driven approach, are adopted or adapted by other Asia-Pacific economies seeking to accelerate SME digitalization.