World Manufacturing Convention 2026 Opens as Anhui Showcases Smart Industry Growth

HEFEI, China – The World Manufacturing Convention 2026 officially opened in Hefei, Anhui Province, on Sunday (September 20, 2026), under the theme “Smart Manufacturing, Creating a Better Life.” The event, held in Anhui for the eighth consecutive year, has brought together more than 1,000 participants from around the world.

The United Kingdom is the guest country of honor at this year's convention. British Ambassador to China Wei Lei delivered remarks at the event, while Solange Amichia, Ministerial Representative of the Cabinet Office of the Presidency of Côte d’Ivoire, read a congratulatory letter from the Ivorian president.

More than 500 foreign representatives and over 40 international companies from the United States, France, Russia and other countries are taking part in the exhibition. The exhibition area covers approximately 70,000 square meters.

An interactive zone has also been established at Luogang Park to showcase applications of unmanned systems. The convention is hosting a series of cross-border industrial cooperation meetings involving China and Europe, as well as China-France and China-UK business exchanges.

Investment Projects Exceed RMB400 Billion

The World Manufacturing Convention has increasingly become a platform not only for showcasing technology but also for attracting investment into the manufacturing sector.

In 2025, 735 projects were implemented through the convention, with total investment reaching RMB380.2 billion. During preparations for this year's event, organizers identified 946 cooperation projects with investment exceeding RMB400 billion.

The projects are concentrated in 10 strategic emerging industries. The convention is also strengthening communication with six groups of market participants, including central state-owned enterprises, private companies, foreign-invested companies, Hong Kong and Macao enterprises, Taiwan companies and overseas Chinese businesses.

Anhui Manufacturing Posts Double-Digit Growth

Manufacturing growth is one of the key highlights of this year's convention. Anhui's operating revenue from large-scale industries has surpassed two trillion-yuan milestones, while the province's ranking in China's High-Quality Manufacturing Development Index improved from seventh to fifth nationally.

From January to July 2026, industrial value added among large-scale enterprises in Anhui increased 12.7 percent year on year, marking the highest growth rate recorded in 58 months.

Industrial profits reached RMB195.9 billion, representing a 63.5 percent year-on-year increase. The industrial sector contributed 58.3 percent of Anhui's GDP growth during the period.

Strategic emerging industries also expanded rapidly. During the first seven months of 2026, their industrial output increased 17.3 percent, accounting for 46.1 percent of the total output of large-scale industries.

Production of new energy vehicles rose 27.5 percent, integrated circuits increased 28.6 percent, and robot production climbed 32.8 percent year on year.

Meanwhile, around 17,000 large-scale industrial companies in Anhui have completed smart transformation and digitalization initiatives. The province has built eight lighthouse factories, while the cumulative number of products classified under the “three firsts” category has reached 1,907.

Anhui Targets Future Industries

Anhui plans to further develop connected intelligent vehicles, integrated circuits and robotics while cultivating emerging future industries such as quantum technology, biomanufacturing and hydrogen energy.

The province is also accelerating digital and intelligent transformation alongside green manufacturing, with the goal of building advanced manufacturing clusters valued at trillions of yuan.

The World Manufacturing Convention 2026 therefore serves as both a showcase of Anhui's manufacturing development and a platform for the province to deepen its integration into global industrial supply chains.

With investment continuing to expand and strategic industries recording strong growth, Anhui is positioning smart manufacturing as a major driver of its next phase of economic development.