Li Fanrong attends 32nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting

The 32nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, on September 4. Li Fanrong, Chairman of Sinochem Holdings and the 2026 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Chair, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks on behalf of ABAC. Li said that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are vital to economic prosperity and resilience across the APEC region. ABAC called on APEC economies to prioritize three areas: accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence and digital technologies by SMEs; expanding access to digital finance and digital trade; and increasing women’s participation in the economy while fully leveraging the positive role of the care economy.

Under the theme “Innovation-Driven Development for Win-win Cooperation,” the meeting issued the Chair’s Statement of the 32nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting, providing guidance for deeper cooperation on SMEs among APEC economies. It also issued the Chair’s Proposal on MSME’s Innovation and Resilient Growth (Guangzhou Proposal).

During his stay in Guangdong, Li and his delegation also visited Bluestar Silicones’  plant in Guangdong where they reviewed the site's HSE performance, production and operations, and technological innovation.