On the morning of April 25th, the opening ceremony for the Seminar on Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Developing Countries and the Belt and Road International Youth Talent Training Program was successfully held. The programs are organized by the MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai) of SBS. Fang Meng from the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce' Department of Foreign Economic Cooperation and Dai Ying, Deputy Director of MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai), attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
At the opening ceremony, Fang Meng pointed out that Shanghai, the host city, is China's largest economic center, serving as a forefront and window for China's reform and opening-up. Through policy guidance and support services, Shanghai has continuously deepened reforms, fostering an innovative SME development echelon and cultivating a hub for technological innovation and talent. Shanghai has gathered a large number of experts and scholars in the fields of SME development and talent cultivation. It is hoped that these training programs will strengthen exchanges and promote mutual development.
Dai Ying stated that in recent years, China has actively expanded international cooperation with SMEs, building multilateral mechanisms and cooperation zones to facilitate the integration of enterprises with international resources in technology, trade, and industry. Furthermore, China places high importance on youth talent cultivation, promoting AI education reform to enhance innovation capabilities. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, China continues to engage in exchanges and interactions with various countries, contributing to their development and boosting mutually beneficial cooperation.
Mr. Sunday Gach Lul Kok, Deputy Director of the Department of Enterprise and Skills Development at the Ministry of Trade and Industry of South Sudan, and a participant representative of the Seminar on Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Developing Countries, stated that the gathering of participants from developing countries this year demonstrates a shared vision and commitment to mutual cooperation and development. He expressed his honor in participating in the seminar alongside other talented individuals and hoped that this exchange would contribute to exploring more comprehensive solutions for promoting the development and innovation of SMEs in developing countries.
Ms. Malonda Tenique Massicott, National Health Insurance Coordinator at the Ministry of Health of Antigua and Barbuda, and a participant representative of the Belt and Road International Youth Talent Training Program, expressed gratitude to the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce, and Shanghai Business School for meticulously organizing the program, empowering aspiring young people to drive progress in Belt and Road Initiative countries. She expressed her anticipation of collaborating with fellow trainees to explore contemporary development issues and apply the knowledge gained to innovative development in Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean region.
Both programs last 21 days. The Seminar on Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Developing Countries includes 24 participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Cabo Verde, Fiji, Grenada, Iraq, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, and Uzbekistan. The Belt and Road International Youth Talent Training Program comprises 18 trainees from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Cyprus, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Grenada, and Uzbekistan. Both programs will include study visits to Huangshan City, Anhui Province, and Yixing City, Jiangsu Province.
The launch of these two programs marks the official commencement of Shanghai Business School's 2025 foreign aid training programs. It is understood that this year, the Ministry of Commerce has assigned the school a total of 42 foreign aid training programs, covering six key areas of the school's expertise: urban planning and construction, infrastructure planning and construction, financial cooperation, trade and investment, technological innovation, and tourism management; as well as emerging strategic fields such as civil aviation management, green economy, digital economy, e-commerce, and energy economics. Guided by President Xi Jinping's "Three Global Initiatives", Shanghai Business School will actively align with the key areas and major livelihood projects of the national Belt and Road Initiative's international development cooperation. The school will optimize program design, improve management services, and enhance training effectiveness to ensure the successful completion of all training tasks this year.
Written by: Zhang Xinyue
Photograph by: Li Zheng
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
