On April 21st, Mr. Xia Geng, Deputy Governor of Shandong Province, attended SFTC’s Alumni Forum on the small-and-medium-size export & import enterprises. The deputy governor listened keenly to the voices from the frontline import and export entrepreneurs and discussed with them about the challenge and countermeasures of export & imports under the current economic environment. Present at the forum were Ms. Lv Wei, Deputy Director General of the Commerce Department of Shandong Province, Mr. Diao Jiandong, President of SFTC, other leaders of the College, and General Managers of 25 SFTC’s Alumni enterprises.

The theme of the forum is on ‘Enhancing innovation and building new superiority in competition’. All participants discussed lively on the grave situation faced by the small-and-medium-size export & import enterprises and on the chances of grabbing the opportunity of the China’s ‘One Belt and One Road’ development strategy. The enterprise representatives first expressed their appreciation for government support and then proposed suggestions on how to enhance the healthy import and export development, including the top-level policy design on the “Internet Plus” Initiative, the enlargement of cross-border E-commerce product line, the enhancement of ‘out-bound’ strategy for products, productivity in Shandong, the construction of overseas industrial gardens, the  facilitation of trade and commerce, the construction of comprehensive service platforms for agricultural products, the application of mega-data technologies, and the facilitation of SMEs’ financing, trade policy information sharing etc. The enterprise representatives also expressed their hopes for strengthened governmental support to export & import SMEs to boost more international trade innovations.

Deputy Governor Xia listened keenly and took detailed notes. He said that the government of Shandong Province has always paid great attention to the development of SMEs, who are of vital importance to the development of local and provincial economy. Considering the severe situation faced by foreign trade business, the central government had made it clear to give a full support to boost exportation. At the same time, the government will further enhance importation as to stimulate domestic consumption, which provides golden opportunities for the small and medium size importers. He hoped the SMEs in Shandong shall echo the national strategy of ‘Going out’, so as to enlarge the influence of China’s economy in the world. He promised the government shall take forceful measures to assist the SMEs by allocating more social and governmental resources to SMEs. In his opinion, the export & import companies shall not advocate size and scale but to change operational mindset and to build themselves into specialization and perfection in business. Finally, the deputy governor made special emphasis on the importance of human resources in international trade, pointing out that school education should carry out deep reform and strengthen the connection between talents cultivation and the real needs of the enterprises.

In its 50-year history, SFTC has cultivated more than 40,000 graduates, and its alumni have set up more than 3000 enterprises. Those at the forum were reps from Export & Import SMEs, most of them were born in 1970s.  The College has attached great importance to its close connection with its alumni enterprises, and has carried out sound personnel exchanges and win-win cooperation with them. The Forum serves as a communication platform among the government, the Alumni enterprises and the College. The government can hear from the frontline businesses, solving their problems and providing policy support for their further development; the enterprises may report their longings and difficulties, help the government forming effective guidelines and supporting policies and get better understanding of the decisions and policy made by the government. As for the College, the forum provides useful links with both the government and the enterprises, winning support from the other two sides on the one hand, and enhancing its social influence.