2004年10月18日，首届中国中小企业博览会今日顺利在广州开锣。首届“中博会”是一次层次较高、规模较大的盛会，共设展位1860个，8个行业展区，除西藏和台湾外全国30个省区、直辖市和香港、澳门两个特别行政区共1950家企业参展。广东、黑龙江、山西、浙江、上海等省市派出了庞大的参展阵容。
新华社报道如下：
More than 5,000 delegates from home and abroad have flocked to the capital of South China's Guangdong Province to take part in the first fair for small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The fair, jointly organized by the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the Guangdong provincial government, is showcasing the GREat achievements of the country's SMEs.
Showcase做名词表示“玻璃陈列柜，展示地”，其动词形式表示“展示，突出地展示，尤指为获取利益”。例如：In the financial services section, stock-trading desks had been set up showcasing the computers.（在金融业务部门中，股票交易桌已被布置好展示计算机。）
据统计，参会的国内外采购商共5000多家，其中包括24家全球500强及世界知名商贸企业，来自30多个国家和地区的国际中小企业采购商达1500多人。
