The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention concluded in Hefei with 790 signed projects representing a stated total investment of RMB 363.4 billion, according to figures released at an Anhui provincial government briefing on September 29.
Of these, 708 were advanced-manufacturing projects, representing RMB 331.7 billion in planned investment. Major agreements reportedly included a project involving advanced semiconductor research, development and production.
The figures describe the proposed investment value associated with signed projects. They do not mean that RMB 363.4 billion has already been invested, that every agreement is legally binding or that all 790 projects will reach construction and operation.
Held from September 20–23, 2026, at the Hefei Binhu International Convention and Exhibition Center, the convention combined technology exhibitions, government and industry meetings, project matchmaking, product launches and research presentations.
Advanced manufacturing accounts for most signed investment
According to Xinhua Finance’s report on the Anhui government briefing, advanced manufacturing accounted for 708 of the convention’s 790 signed projects.
That represents approximately 90% of all signed projects and just over 91% of their reported investment value.
The organisers did not publish a complete English-language list of the 790 projects, their investors, implementation schedules or individual agreement types. It is therefore not yet possible to determine how much of the total relates to binding investment contracts, preliminary cooperation agreements or projects still requiring additional approvals.
For companies and investors, the more meaningful indicators will be how many projects proceed to company registration, land acquisition, regulatory approval, construction and commercial operation.
International participation reaches 54 countries and regions
The World Manufacturing Convention 2026 attracted guests and exhibitors from 54 countries and regions. The United Kingdom served as the guest country of honour, while 11 international programmes were held during the convention.
Organisers reported 522 foreign guests, including:
- 88 diplomats and representatives of partner governments
- 205 representatives of international organisations and business associations
- 221 representatives of overseas Fortune Global 500 companies and multinational businesses
- Eight international researchers and subject specialists
Foreign participants represented more than half of the convention’s designated key guests.
According to an English-language convention results report, cross-border matchmaking contributed to 24 foreign-invested projects worth RMB 11.2 billion.
A separate Anhui-Hong Kong-Macao industrial matchmaking programme produced 20 signed projects with a reported investment value of RMB 11.46 billion.
These figures provide more specific evidence of international investment activity than the overall attendance numbers. However, the organisers did not publish detailed information about the foreign investors, project locations or implementation stages.
Exhibition brings together 1,230 companies
The convention’s exhibition programme featured 1,230 participating companies and more than 15,000 products and technologies.
The showcases covered fields including:
- Artificial intelligence and industrial robotics
- Advanced semiconductors
- New-energy vehicles and automotive supply chains
- Solid-state batteries and energy storage
- High-end industrial equipment
- Quantum technology
- Hydrogen energy and nuclear fusion
- Low-altitude aviation and unmanned systems
- Digital and intelligent manufacturing
Among the 15,000 exhibits were 217 products and scientific achievements classified by the organisers as major or cutting-edge technology exhibits. This figure should not be interpreted as the total number of exhibits.
Highlighted technologies included a 180-qubit superconducting quantum processor, humanoid robots and displays connected with BEST, China’s Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak project.
More than 160 technologies, products, reports and business cases were released during the convention. Ten products and technologies described as internationally or domestically leading were given prominent launches, including a quantum-diamond chip inspection instrument.
The emphasis on semiconductor technology reflects the wider expansion of China’s chip-design, manufacturing and packaging ecosystem. Similar supply-chain developments were displayed at ICES 2026 in Shanghai.
Exhibition-area reports use different measurements
The organiser’s post-event announcement reports that official and commercial exhibitions, together with the integrated unmanned-systems showcase, covered approximately 80,000 square metres.
Earlier official reporting described a 70,000-square-metre exhibition at the principal venue, divided between a 20,000-square-metre manufacturing-development exhibition and 50,000 square metres of commercial exhibition space.
The difference may result from the later figure including additional demonstration or exhibition areas. Because the published reports do not explain their counting methods, the two figures should not be presented as directly comparable.
The main convention activities took place at the Hefei Binhu International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Attendance reaches 74,000 in person
The organiser reported 74,000 in-person visits and 4.54 million online views during the convention.
More than 5,900 onsite transactions generated sales exceeding RMB 600 million. These exhibition transactions should be distinguished from the RMB 363.4 billion in signed investment projects: they measure different forms of commercial activity.
The convention also hosted 27 industry matchmaking sessions and related programmes, which produced 87 cooperation agreements or memoranda.
These 87 agreements are not an additional set of investment projects to be added to the 790-project total. They appear to represent agreements and memoranda produced through particular matchmaking programmes, while the 790 figure covers the convention’s broader project-signing results.
Regional projects concentrate on Anhui and the Yangtze River Delta
Projects involving partners from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang accounted for 453 signed projects with a stated investment value of RMB 154.72 billion.
The six cities of northern Anhui recorded 194 projects valued at RMB 64.77 billion. The “Central State-Owned Enterprises Visit Anhui” programme produced 16 agreements representing RMB 39 billion.
The categories may overlap and should not be added together as separate totals. They describe the geographic or organisational composition of projects included in the convention’s results.
The concentration of Yangtze River Delta projects shows the importance of regional supply-chain integration between Anhui and neighbouring manufacturing centres. Anhui has developed major automotive, battery, semiconductor, display, equipment-manufacturing and renewable-energy clusters that connect with suppliers and customers across eastern China.
Battery technology was particularly visible at the convention through solid-state battery and energy-storage exhibits. Buyers following this sector can also review developments presented at the World Power Battery Conference 2026.
What the results mean for international companies
For overseas manufacturers and technology providers, the convention demonstrates the sectors currently attracting substantial investment attention in Anhui.
Potential opportunities include:
- Supplying equipment and components to new manufacturing projects
- Licensing industrial or energy technologies
- Establishing research and development partnerships
- Working with Chinese manufacturers on overseas expansion
- Providing testing, certification and engineering services
- Joining semiconductor, automotive, robotics and clean-energy supply chains
Companies should nevertheless evaluate individual opportunities independently. A convention announcement does not establish a project’s financing, regulatory approval, construction schedule or procurement requirements.
International suppliers should confirm the identity of the project company, financing structure, relevant government approvals and decision-making process before committing significant resources.
The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention produced substantial project-signing and exhibition figures, but its longer-term economic effect will depend on implementation. Progress reports showing which projects begin construction, enter production or create new procurement opportunities will provide a more reliable measure of the convention’s commercial impact.
Companies looking for other manufacturing exhibitions and sourcing opportunities can search the China trade show calendar.
