The 2026 APEC SME Business Forum opened on June 24 in Shenzhen's Luohu District, co-hosted by central and local authorities under the theme "Digital Intelligence Empowerment, Open Innovation, and Win-Win Cooperation." The event gathers APEC members, experts, and business leaders to discuss digital transformation for SMEs.
Here are the key outcomes: the launch of the Asia-Pacific SME Cooperation Zone (Luohu, Shenzhen), China's first national-level zone for the entire APEC region, and a four-party agreement signed by the city, the district, a policy bank, and an export credit agency to provide financing, insurance, and risk support for SMEs going global.
On site, local firms like chipmaker Jiangyuan Technology are demonstrating affordable AI solutions tailored for small businesses. The message is clear that Shenzhen, Luohu in particular, is turning APEC's vision into concrete action for inclusive SME growth.
Reporter | Cai Minling
Video editing | Xie Haoran
Cameraman | Lu Li
