Egypt is taking part as huest of honour at the 20th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF), unveiling a major pavilion that features 88 Egyptian industrial projects and a dedicated space for direct trade agreements, Egyptian Cabinet announced Sunday. The event, one of Asia's largest platforms for SME collaboration, was inaugurated by Basil Rahmy, CEO of Egypt's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), alongside Essam El-Naggar, Chairman of the General Authority for Exhibitions, and Khaled Milad, Head of Egypt's Commercial Office in China. Held under the auspices of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the fair positions Egypt at the centre of global SME engagement this year. "This year's edition coincides with International MSME Day, and Egypt's selection as guest of honour reflects its rising regional economic influence and the rapid growth of its SME sector under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi," said Rahmy. The Egyptian pavilion serves as a platform to connect local manufacturers with international investors. The contracting hall allows businesses to engage in direct trade negotiations—a step Rahmy says will "open global doors for Egyptian industry." Rahmy also revealed plans for deepened cooperation with Chinese institutions, including technology transfer, joint entrepreneurship programmes, and investment in smart production lines to help Egyptian SMEs scale competitively. Egypt's involvement was coordinated by MSMEDA and the General Authority for Exhibitions, with strong support from the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
