GUANGZHOU: The 823 overseas exhibiting enterprises at the 6th CISMEF in the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center will have more than 1,500 standard booths, about 24.5 percent of the total, according to a bulletin on the official website of the fair.

From September 22 to 25, the non-profit fair to promote exchange and cooperation among Chinese SMEs and their foreign peers will host firms from 32 countries and regions worldwide as well as more than 10,000 visitors from at least 55 countries and regions.

"The unprecedented scale of exhibitors and visitors speaks for the growing influence of the fair worldwide," noted Yang Yang, director of the Bureau of CISMEF.

According to the official, the Spanish delegation alone will have more than 200 firms that will show their bio-technology, machine tools, manufacturing equipment and components, information technology, agricultural products, energy-saving and environmentally friendly solutions, tourism sites, franchised business, engineering and construction as well as educational resources.

Spain is a co-sponsor of the fair this year.

"Hong Kong and Macao-funded enterprises have also shown unexpected passion for the fair," he said. "They contributed much to the unprecedented numbers."

The official said the organizing committee will organize seminars for overseas exhibitors to talk face to face with their Chinese counterparts to forge potential trade and investment partnerships.

Each Spanish company is prioritized so it can hold talks with 10 Chinese enterprises.

According to a senior official with the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade of the Kingdom of Spain, Spanish firms are attracted by China's rapid economic development and immense market potential, so the Spanish delegation attaches great importance to CISMEF.

Spanish investors now have more than 600 enterprises throughout China.

"Miguel Sebastian Gascon, minister of industry, commerce and tourism of Spain, will head the delegation and the fair is expected to mark a good beginning of commercial cooperation between China and Spain," the official was quoted by People's Daily as saying.

In August 2008, Li Yizhong, minister of industry and information technology, invited Spain to be the country of honor at the 6th CISMEF. When he met with Gascon, they made an agreement to co-host the 6th CISMEF.

France co-hosted the second session of CISMEF, followed by Italy, Japan and South Korea.