THE 12TH APEC Technology Fair

Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China on 9-11 November, 2023.

The APEC Small & Medium Enterprises Technology Conference and Fair (hereinafter referred to as the “APEC SMETC”), an important cooperation project conducted under APEC framework, is launched to build a platform for APEC member economies to display new technologies, to trade new products and to exchange new modes, promote technical exchanges and economic and trade cooperation for SMEs among APEC member economies, deepen practical cooperation and assist SMEs in integrating into the global value chain and enhancing the sustainable development capacity and international competitiveness. Since 1996, the APEC SMETC has been held for 11 sessions in Tokyo of Japan, Yantai, Qingdao, Fuzhou, Chengdu, Yiwu, Shenzhen, Shenyang, and Xi'an of China, respectively, and received active participation and recognition from APEC member economies.

The 12th APEC SMETC, themed with "Digital Innovation Drives Sustainable Development, Win-win Cooperation Aspires Greater Prosperity", is scheduled to be held in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China on November 9-11, 2023, co-hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China and the People's Government of Shandong Province. Representatives from 21 APEC member economies and the countries along the Belt and Road Initiative will be invited to participate in.

Qingdao is a prefecture-level city in Shandong province which is an important coastal city in China,, an open coastal city, a new first-tier city, an economic center city, a historical and cultural city, an international port city, a seaside resort and tourism city, and a livable city. Located in the southeastern part of Shandong Peninsula, on the eastern coast of Jiaodong Peninsula, Qingdao is adjacent to the Yellow Sea and faces the Korean Peninsula across the sea. It is situated at the forefront of the China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Zone.

Qingdao is one of the first coastal open cities in China, a seaside city, a civilized city, a health city, a garden city, and a forest city. It is also the city with the highest level of happiness in China. By the end of 2022, Qingdao boasts over 700,000 SMEs, which contribute to more than 60% of tax revenue, over 80% of new job opportunities and imports & exports, and over 99% of the total number of enterprises. These have become the main driving force behind the economic and social development, serving as the most robust "dream builder" for Qingdao's future prospects and the realization of its new urban aspirations.