SME digitalization drive gets shot in arm

China will step up the push to fuel the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises by helping them embrace cloud computing, big data and other cutting-edge technologies, a senior official from the nation's top industrial regulator said on Thursday.

Such a move is part of China's broader effort to build world-class industrial internet platforms by 2035, which can allow companies to customize products at speed and scale, and help them boost productivity and cut costs.

Wang Jiangping, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said accelerating the informatization of SMEs in China is an effective way to improve their competence and facilitate their financing efforts amid fierce competition.