APEC SME Business Forum 2026 kicks off in Luohu

Video by Zhao Xiaochen

Government officials, academicians, industry leaders, and representatives of small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) from across the APEC economies have convened in Shenzhen to chart new courses for the digital and intelligent transformation of SMEs in the Asia-Pacific. 

The attendees are participating in the APEC SME Business Forum 2026, a key event of the APEC “China Year.” The forum officially commenced today in Luohu District and is scheduled to conclude this Thursday.

Since its launch in 2017, the forum has been hosted in China six times, establishing itself as a premier platform for high-level policy dialogue, multilateral cooperation, SME innovation, and the optimization of regional business environments.

An aerial view of Shenzhen. File photo

Under the theme “Digital Intelligence Empowers, Open Innovation Drives, Win-Win Cooperation Prevails,” this year’s agenda features a primary forum complemented by three specialized parallel sessions. Additionally, a dedicated exhibition area has been established to showcase the latest high-quality innovative breakthroughs from regional SMEs.

At the main forum, keynote speakers will provide comprehensive analyses of the evolving global trade and investment landscape. A significant focus is being placed on the transformative impact of large-scale AI models on the international expansion of enterprises. Panelists are also exploring strategies to help SMEs maintain steady growth amid a complex and volatile global economy.

To provide a hands-on perspective on Shenzhen’s industrial prowess, the forum includes three curated field trips. Participants will visit the Shenzhen Jewelry Museum and Gold Plaza in Luohu District, the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone in Futian District, and the Robot Avenue and AI/Robot 6S stores in Longgang District.

Asia-Pacific SME Resilience Development Forum

The Asia-Pacific SME Resilience Development Forum, a key parallel session of the APEC SME Business Forum 2026, convened on June 24.

The event attracted academicians, industry leaders, and SME representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss urban safety, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable development strategies.

During the forum, participants shared innovative technologies and practical achievements in fields such as new energy, energy conservation, and carbon reduction, both domestically and internationally, striving to build a new ecosystem for the sustainable development of SMEs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Wei Yiming, vice president of the Beijing Institute of Technology and Academician of the German Academy of Science and Engineering, said that companies are in a "new stage" of green growth defined by decarbonization, digitalization, and institutionalization.

International cooperation was also a key focus, with Farhana Kamaruddin, trade commissioner of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in Guangzhou, actively inviting businesses to explore green product partnerships with Malaysia.

The forum served as a platform for significant institutional partnerships. Luohu’s district government signed a memorandum with the Beijing Institute of Technology and the Shenzhen International Innovation and Exchange Center for SMEs in the GBA to establish a carbon neutrality joint research center.

Furthermore, seven organizations signed centralized agreements to launch six major projects focused on energy and cross-border smart emergency response. In a display of “walking the talk,” the forum itself was awarded a certificate for being a carbon neutrality pilot demonstration project, achieving a net-zero carbon footprint for the duration of the event.

AI Empowering Asia-Pacific SME Industrial Development Forum

As a key parallel session of the APEC SME Business Forum 2026, the “AI Empowering Asia-Pacific SME Industrial Development Forum” was held on June 24.

The forum, which was themed “Industrial Upgrading — A New Paradigm for SME Development Driven by AI,” attracted experts and corporate representatives from more than 500 companies to discuss the future of frontier technologies such as OpenHarmony, RISC-V, and embodied artificial intelligence (AI), computing power infrastructure, large AI models, intelligent terminals, and industry application solutions.

The forum delved into global AI development trends, cross-border cooperation for SMEs and technology commercialization pathways, aiming to help Asia-Pacific SMEs achieve industrial upgrades through artificial intelligence.

An onsite exhibition showcased 77 product categories from 30 innovative firms, ranging from advanced robotics to AI-powered wearables.

Keynote speakers emphasized the necessity of integrating AI into the real economy. Ma Zhaoyuan, a tenured professor at Southern University of Science and Technology, highlighted that the fusion of AI and manufacturing is now “inevitable.” Xiao Jing, chief scientist of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, proposed a three-pillar strategy for growth: strengthening the underlying technology foundation, expanding practical application scenarios, and deepening AI ethical governance.

Corporate executives from Shenzhen ENRIGIN Technology Co., Huawei Terminal HarmonyOS and X Square Robot showcased their achievements in all-in-one AI computing appliances, OpenHarmony-powered lightweight intelligent solutions, and embodied intelligence foundation models, respectively.

The forum called for a transition in how SMEs are supported. Cao Zhongxiong, assistant to the president of the China (Shenzhen) Institute of Comprehensive Development, advocated for a shift toward “stimulating creativity” and “ecosystem building.”

To support this ecosystem, various speakers introduced specialized solutions:

● Plug and Play China: Facilitating cross-border collaboration.

● China Telecom: Providing inclusive computing power.

● PICC: Offering technology-specific insurance products.

Luohu-based companies also demonstrated “AI+” applications in traditional sectors. Shenzhen Hipine Precision Technology Co., for instance, launched an AI management system tailored for the gold and jewelry retail industry, a cornerstone of Luohu’s economy.

The event also marked the release of the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Development White Paper, confirming Shenzhen’s leading status in China’s AI sector. Additionally, a strategic partnership was signed between Shenzhen Sensing Data Technology Co. and Shenzhen University to develop advanced data acquisition systems for embodied AI.

Asia-Pacific SME International Cooperation and Development Forum

In a significant move to bolster international trade and industrial synergy, the Luohu District Enterprise Service Center signed memorandum of understanding with eight prominent overseas business associations during the Asia-Pacific SME International Cooperation and Development Forum held June 24.

The overseas business associations include major regional players such as the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Macao Federation of Science and Technology, the Singapore South China Chamber of Commerce, and the Guangdong General Chamber of Commerce Indonesia.

Under the agreements, both sides will collaborate on cross-border enterprise matchmaking, industrial innovation exchanges and market information sharing. Planned activities also include business negotiations, enterprise visits, and trade promotion seminars.

The partnership aims to bridge technical gaps and enhance resource connectivity between enterprises, science parks, and innovation entities across the Asia-Pacific region.

The initiative leverages Shenzhen’s status as a powerhouse for SMEs. Jiang Qingqi, deputy director of the Shenzhen SME service bureau, said that the city’s 2.9 million SMEs are the primary engines of high-quality growth. Shenzhen currently leads Chinese cities in “specialized and sophisticated” enterprises, boasting 13,000 such firms alongside 1,333 national-level “little giant” enterprises.

In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approved the establishment of the “Asia-Pacific SME Cooperation Zone · Shenzhen’s Luohu District.” The zone covers 11.67 square kilometers across the Nanhu, Guiyuan, Sungang, and Qingshuihe subdistricts.