On the morning of October 31, the launching ceremony of Hengyang’s City Pilot Program for the Digital Transformation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), themed “Smart Manufacturing in Hengyang, Digital Innovation for the Future,” was held. Zhu Jian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hengyang Municipal Committee and Mayor of Hengyang, emphasized the need to earnestly implement key tasks for SME digital transformation, ensure that the pilot program is carried out with depth, precision, and effectiveness, and contribute more Hengyang strength to Hunan’s efforts in building a nationally significant advanced manufacturing hub.

Zhu noted that the official launch of Hengyang’s SME digital transformation city pilot program marks a concrete step in implementing the guiding principles of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the decisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on promoting the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector. In September this year, Hengyang was selected as one of China’s pilot cities for SME digital transformation. Zhu urged enterprises to seize this historic opportunity, accelerate progress, and actively respond to this “compulsory question” that concerns their survival and long-term development.

Zhu stressed the importance of targeted measures and task-oriented implementation. Guided by the principle of “strengthening the foundation, building exemplary models, and promoting application,” Hengyang will advance the pilot program in stages and categories, accelerate the construction and application of 10G optical networks, and make full use of the city’s SME digital service platform while conducting digital skills training. The city will focus on four sub-industries and give full play to the leading role of major enterprises such as Tebian Electric Apparatus, Kingboard Holdings, MCC Copper, and Raymon Technology, driving SMEs to integrate into large enterprise ecosystems. Hengyang will also summarize replicable and scalable experiences to build a “knowledge base” for SME digital transformation.

Liu Weidong, Deputy Director-General of the Hunan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, encouraged Hengyang to explore innovative, pragmatic mechanisms tailored to local industries, promote “chain-based” and cluster-based digital transformation models, and empower SMEs to improve quality and efficiency through innovation.

Wang Baoyou, Chief Engineer of the China Academy of Industrial Internet, pledged full support for the pilot program, helping Hengyang enhance its service capabilities for SME digital transformation and advance new industrialization.

At the meeting, the first batch of pilot SMEs and digital service providers for digital transformation were announced. The Hengyang Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology also presented the Implementation Plan for the City Pilot Program of SME Digital Transformation in Hengyang and Supporting Policies for the National SME Digital Transformation City Pilot Program in Hengyang. Representatives from the Hengyang High-tech Zone and China Telecom Hengyang Branch delivered speeches.

Vice Mayor Wu Lesheng presided over the meeting.

Translator: Jing