GASME News

Global Summit of SME Leaders held in Guangzhou

The Global Summit of SME Leaders, co-organized by Global Alliance of SMEs (GASME), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, was held at the Imperial Springs International Convention Center in Guangzhou on November 17th, 2013.

National leaders, senior officials of international organizations, international business leaders, experts and scholars, as well as 300 executives of SMEs gathered to address the development issues facing SMEs and explored various solutions.

The attendees of mention from overseas include: Mr. Bill Clinton, Founder of the Clinton Foundation and the 42nd President of the United States of America, Mr. John William Ashe, President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France，Mr. Carlos Magariños, Global Chairman of GASME and Former UNIDO Director-General, Mr. Raul Diez Canseco Terry, Senior Vice Chairman of GASME and Former Vice President of Peru, Mr. Mohamed Lamine Dhaoui, Director of the Business, Investment and Technology Services Branch-UNIDO, Mrs. Patricia Espinosa, Senior Vice Chairman of GASME and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Mr. Ronald Bew, Senior Vice Chairman of GASME and Former Associate Deputy Administrator of U.S. Small Business Administration, Mr. William Spitler, Chairman of Board of Trustees of GASME and Former Director of New York Center of U.S. Department of Commerce, Dr. George Wang, Executive Chairman of GASME, Mr. Jing-Sheng Lue, Asia Representative of German Association of Cities and so on.

From China side, Ms. Li Xiaolin，President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Zhu Xiaodan, Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr. Chen Jianhua, Mayor of Guangzhou City, Dr. Chau Chak Wing, Executive Vice President of China Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs, Mr. He Weiwen, Vice Chairman of GASME and Former Economic and Commercial Counselor at Chinese Consulate General in New York, Mr. Zheng Yonggang, Chairman of Shanghai Entrepreneurs Association, Mr. Zhou Dewen, Vice Chairman of China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, among others, also attended the event.

President Clinton spoke on various issues facing the Chinese and the world economy, highlighting the role and contributions made by SMEs in the global economic growth. He pointed out that, if looking back the history, it may take about 10 years to get the economy recovered from a financial crisis like the most recent one, as it will take time to restore the lost market confidence and rebalance the economy. President Clinton also said China’s high savings rate makes it possible for the country to investment significant amount of money in infrastructure construction and development. He anticipates that clean energy and medicine production would be key areas where SMEs will find their growth opportunities. In the United States, SMEs undertake the research and development for the majority of clean energies. China has abundant natural resources such as natural gas, so energy development is a field that SMEs have a high growth potential. After President Clinton’s speech, Dr. George Wang, Executive Chairman of GASME, moderated a Q&A session with President Clinton on some hot issues of the current world economy.

President of the United Nations General Assembly, John William Ashe, said in his speech that the SMEs in Guangdong Province have strong and vigorous growth potential, and are making great contributions to the economic development of China and the world at large. He said, “Through the collaboration of the government and the private enterprises, the world economy had found a better way out of the financial crisis”. He emphasized that in spite of the traditional mindset of minding everyone’s own business, the future development is crying for more team work of all social sectors, amongst national governments, international organizations, SMEs and the general public.

Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France, spoke on the globalization of SMEs. He noted that the 2008 global financial crisis successfully curbed with the efforts of all nations, has prevented the world from entering an era like the Great Depression in 1930s. At present, the SMEs all around the world have to face the challenges of globalization, and win the new opportunities. He also hoped that the SMEs of China and France could deepen the cooperation in real sense and facilitate the matchmaking for 500 Chinese enterprises and 500 French enterprises.

Mr. Li XiaoLin，President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, commented that the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which was recently held, had closed with many achievements, bringing new development opportunities for SMEs. As the SMEs continue to play a driving force in promoting world economic development and are the source of scientific and technological innovation, the “Global Summit of SME Leaders” served as an excellent exchange platform for SMEs worldwide in industrial advancement and international cooperation.

Mr. Zhu Xiaodan, Governor of Guangdong Province, said that SMEs are the most dynamic and most creative ones, and have great potential in the national economy. It is a fundamental economic policy for many countries to develop SMEs, as well as the key fields of international economic and trade cooperation. Guangdong Province, which has been at the forefront of reform and opening up, is one of the provinces with the most developed private sectors. SMEs are facing a window period for development and Guangdong government will always try to build favorable environment for SMEs. He hoped to take the opportunity of this summit to enhance the exchanges and cooperation for SMEs in Guangdong Province and other countries in the world, further strengthening the cooperation in renewable energy, energy conservation and environment protection, creative design, commodity circulation and service outsourcing, and creating new growth spots.

Mr. Carlos Magariños, Global Chairman of GASME and Former UNIDO Director-General, pointed out the importance of the alliance of global SMEs for the economic development under globalization. Many emerging economies play a crucial role in the worldwide economic recovery. He also said, since 2003, only few emerging economies have produced an annual GDP growth under 5%. The emerging economies, headed by China, including Brazil, India and Russia, will surpass the developed countries in the industrial development. As a result, countries with a new global middle class will play a key role in the world. Mr. Magariños pointed out that economists predict the world will see a tremendous growth in global middle class by 2020. In addition, while 50% of the middle class was in developed countries in 2010, 54% of the middle class will be in Asia by 2020.

At the International Business Leaders Roundtable held on November 17th, the “China’s Top 10 Internationally Influential Entrepreneurs” was published. The selected entrepreneurs include Mr. Zhang Ruimin, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Haier Group; Mr. Liang Wengen, President of Sany Group; Mr. Li Dongsheng, Chairman and President of TCL Corporation; Mr. Tang Qiao, President of Wuliangye Group; Mr. Wan Long, Chairman of Shuanghui Group; Mr. Jin Xiangzuo, President of World Packaging Center and Chairman of Global Packaging Center Group; Mr. Zheng Yonggang, Chairman of the Board and President of Shanshan Group; Mr. Jiang Xipei, Chairman of the Board of Far Eastern Group; Mr. Gao Dekang, President of Bosideng International Holdings Limited and Mr. Zhou Haijiang, Chairman of HODO Group.