Smaller private companies in Guangdong are urged to make greater use of information technologies in the modern Internet era to increase efficiency, conserve resources and expand their business.

Zou Sheng, deputy director of the Guangdong provincial department of information industry, said the use of IT is now essential to SMEs .

"Boosting information technologies will certainly help create a better electronic business environment and provide more opportunities," Zou told China Daily.

Greater use of digital technology will also help conserve natural resources and reduce operational and production costs, Zou said.

"Promoting information technologies will accelerate independent innovation, promote the development of new and hi-tech industries and improve competitiveness," Zou added.

Enhanced use of IT is evident at the Sixth China International Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) that begins today at the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Zou said this year's CISMEF has an additional exhibition hall this year to display information technologies and services for SMEs.

Well-known companies that will display their latest technologies and products during the fair include China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom

Special lectures and forums will be held at the fair to promote IT and expand cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies.

Plans for development of information industry in Guangdong include a special information service network to help the province's myriad SMEs develop their own IT.

Zou said that because Guangdong is so near Hong Kong and Macao, it has great potential to further expand cooperation with counterparts in those regions.

"Cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao, where information industry is well developed, would benefit both sides," Zou said.

Guangdong, one of the country's economic powerhouses, is home to a great number of SMEs that play an increasingly important role in the province's economic development.

About 4 million people currently work at smaller companies in Guangdong.