Guiyang has been selected as a pilot city for the 2024 National SME Digital Transformation initiative, according to a report by local media on July 24.

The city will receive 150 million yuan ($20.70 million) in central government funding to support the digital transformation and the enhancement of service capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises.

A total of 36 cities and districts nationwide have been included in the pilot program. These cities and districts will focus on identifying specific industries for digital transformation, establishing benchmark enterprises, fostering high-quality digital service providers, and developing a range of high-quality digital solutions and products.

The overarching goal is to explore and establish effective methods, market mechanisms, and models for the digital transformation of SMEs, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and promoting high-quality development, according to authorities.

Guiyang will concentrate on several key industries, including light textiles, pharmaceutical manufacturing, computer and communication equipment manufacturing, chemical raw materials and products manufacturing, non-ferrous metal smelting and rolling processing, and the manufacturing of railway, ship, aerospace, and other transportation equipment.

The 393 SMEs included in Guiyang's pilot program are expected to reach at least Grade Two in digitalization. The city also aims to develop no fewer than seven industrial clusters focused on the digital transformation of SMEs, cultivate 30 benchmark enterprises for digital transformation, and create at least 60 high-quality digital products.

These efforts are anticipated to further drive the digital transformation of SMEs across the province, empower green and low-carbon development, and serve as a model for ecological protection and high-quality development in Guizhou province, noted a local official.