China bolsters assistance for SMEs venturing abroad
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has unveiled new initiatives aimed at assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in their global expansion. These measures emphasize policy support, market access, talent development, and management enhancement.
TroibNews 
In early February, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced new initiatives aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand their global reach, with an emphasis on policy support, access to markets, talent development, and management improvements.
The ministry also called on banks to provide customized cross-border financing for SMEs, enhance overseas support, and improve financial risk management to aid their global expansion efforts.
On February 8, the MIIT, along with its Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation, unveiled the 2025 Enterprise Global Expansion Program. This initiative aims to promote international collaboration and assist manufacturing companies in integrating into global supply chains. From February to April, a series of industry-focused matchmaking events are scheduled in countries such as Russia, Central Asia, ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea, facilitating direct engagement with local governments and business entities.
Additionally, the program aims to support SMEs by fostering collaboration among governments, industries, academic institutions, and research organizations, while providing resources related to customs, logistics, and public services. An industrial cooperation event planned for late February will focus on strengthening business connections between China and the United Arab Emirates.
Officials from the MIIT noted that such industrial cooperation has enhanced technology sharing, improved resource allocation, and spurred economic growth. In recent years, for instance, China has completely opened its manufacturing sector to foreign investment, expanded access to the telecommunications industry, and implemented pilot programs in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan, and Shenzhen for foreign telecom service providers.
In 2024, China established 28 cooperation agreements with 24 nations and regions, including ASEAN, Germany, Italy, and Brazil, promoting industrial growth as well as collaboration in information and communication technology and with SMEs. Furthermore, fifteen Chinese-foreign SME cooperation zones have been set up in the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.
According to data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, the country's total trade volume reached 43.85 trillion yuan in 2024, marking a 5.0 percent increase from the previous year. Exports rose 7.1 percent to 25.45 trillion yuan, while imports increased by 2.3 percent to 18.39 trillion yuan. The global expansion program is expected to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs and further integrate them into international markets.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
The ministry also called on banks to provide customized cross-border financing for SMEs, enhance overseas support, and improve financial risk management to aid their global expansion efforts.
On February 8, the MIIT, along with its Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation, unveiled the 2025 Enterprise Global Expansion Program. This initiative aims to promote international collaboration and assist manufacturing companies in integrating into global supply chains. From February to April, a series of industry-focused matchmaking events are scheduled in countries such as Russia, Central Asia, ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea, facilitating direct engagement with local governments and business entities.
Additionally, the program aims to support SMEs by fostering collaboration among governments, industries, academic institutions, and research organizations, while providing resources related to customs, logistics, and public services. An industrial cooperation event planned for late February will focus on strengthening business connections between China and the United Arab Emirates.
Officials from the MIIT noted that such industrial cooperation has enhanced technology sharing, improved resource allocation, and spurred economic growth. In recent years, for instance, China has completely opened its manufacturing sector to foreign investment, expanded access to the telecommunications industry, and implemented pilot programs in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hainan, and Shenzhen for foreign telecom service providers.
In 2024, China established 28 cooperation agreements with 24 nations and regions, including ASEAN, Germany, Italy, and Brazil, promoting industrial growth as well as collaboration in information and communication technology and with SMEs. Furthermore, fifteen Chinese-foreign SME cooperation zones have been set up in the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.
According to data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, the country's total trade volume reached 43.85 trillion yuan in 2024, marking a 5.0 percent increase from the previous year. Exports rose 7.1 percent to 25.45 trillion yuan, while imports increased by 2.3 percent to 18.39 trillion yuan. The global expansion program is expected to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs and further integrate them into international markets.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
