Liu Minxia

    mllmx@msn.com

    GLOBAL consultancy firm PwC headquartered its China Center of Excellence in Shenzhen’s Qianhai yesterday, aiming to provide innovative solutions, sophisticated technology and business insights to Qianhai firms as well as those in the rest of Shenzhen and the broader China market.

    Saying that the center is the first of its kind that PwC has established globally, Elton Yeung, strategy and innovation service leader of PwC’s China division, hopes their creativity, insights and education programs will help establish Qianhai as an industrial and financial innovation hub. The center has plans to educate young entrepreneurs, help incubate startups, and offer innovative solutions on financial security, cyber security, smart offices and e-commerce.

    “Considering its location, preferential policies, infrastructure and talents, we have high hopes for Qianhai’s future development,” Yeung told reporters after a signing ceremony where PwC reached a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Shenzhen Qianhai Financial Holding Co.

    “We hope to use our expertise and resources to help Qianhai find its mode of development both in innovation and finance,” said Yeung. “To be specific, we will help more overseas financial firms establish a presence in Qianhai and also help Qianhai firms go global.”

    PwC will leverage its global network to help Qianhai Financial fulfil its development strategy by attracting outstanding local and overseas financial enterprises, Yeung said. PwC will also provide advisory services, carry out research for financial services firms in Qianhai and provide innovative solutions to help establish a new financial services model in Qianhai, according to Li Qiang, chairman of Qianhai Financial.

    The center is an important step PwC is taking to transform itself from a firm focused on auditing, assurance, tax and consulting services to a multi-field service provider, according to Yeung.

    “The China Center of Excellence is an integral part of PwC’s development blueprint for China and will boost the ecosystem of Qianhai,” said Raymund Chao, chairman of PwC’s China division. “Helping Qianhai’s development as an international industrial innovation hub also helps us fulfill our purpose of building trust in society and solving important problems.”