Market capacity building workshop held in Longhua

The MSME Sustainable Development & Asia-Pacific Market Capacity Building Workshop took place at the Longhua International Cooperation Center in Shenzhen on the morning of July 31. The event brought together representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China and overseas, along with international students from local universities, to exchange views on sustainable development and regional market integration.

Participants pose for a photo. Photos courtesy of the organizer

Li Xiaofeng speaks at the event.

The workshop opened with a welcome address by Li Xiaofeng, director of the Longhua International Cooperation Center (LICC). She noted that the workshop is part of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Digital & Intelligent Economy Sustainable Development Innovation Week. She expressed the center’s commitment to supporting local SMEs in their international expansion and fostering deeper ties between Longhua and Asia-Pacific markets.

Dato‘ Ong Chong Yi speaks at the event.

During the workshop, Shenzhen Dailyreporter spoke with Dato‘ Ong Chong Yi, ASEAN Representative and Senior Research Fellow at the Hainan Institute for Free Trade Port Studies. He pointed to the strength of Shenzhen’s R&D ecosystem and the range of high-tech products on display — from AI-powered glasses and smart home systems to energy storage solutions. “What impressed me is not just the technology, but also the pricing,” he said. “Many of these products are more affordable than we expected.”

He also noted that market awareness remains a key challenge. Many businesses in ASEAN are not yet familiar with these products or their potential to improve efficiency and support greener operations at relatively low cost.

Eva Chen speaks at the event.

Shenzhen Daily reporter also interviewed Eva Chen, senior team manager at the President's Office of Kasikornbank (China). She noted that the Asia-Pacific region is home to one of the world's most dynamic SME ecosystems, making it one of the most strategically significant markets for sustainable finance and a key frontier for advancing inclusive green transition. She added that the bank will continue to leverage its long-standing experience in China-ASEAN cooperation and climate solutions to support SMEs across the region in their green transformation.

During the workshop,Yang Hui,executive deputy secretary-general of the Digital Intelligence Economy Alliance, along with other industry speakers, also took part in the sharing and exchange sessions.

Participants at the event.

Under the guidance of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and the People's Government of Longhua District, Shenzhen Municipality, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme China Office, organized by the Longhua International Cooperation Center, and supported by the Guangzhou Institute of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the workshop was held as a parallel event of the Asia-Pacific Digital & Intelligent Economy Sustainable Development Innovation Week, with the aim of helping local SMEs connect with regional partners and explore new opportunities for cross-border cooperation and sustainable growth.