Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

NEARLY 80 representatives from 36 foreign-invested companies and eight business associations visited Shenzhen last week to gain insights into the city’s business environment and industrial opportunities. The event, which marked the conclusion of their three-day visit to Guangdong Province, was organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Guangdong Provincial Government.

During the event, representatives from multinational companies such as Qualcomm, Marubeni Corporation, and Bank of East Asia, along with members of business associations like the Canada-China Business Council and the Thai Chamber of Commerce in China, engaged in in-depth discussions with Shenzhen government officials.

The dialogues focused on Shenzhen’s pro-business policies, health care, cultural tourism, logistics, financial services, and advanced manufacturing.

Phaichit Viboontanasarn, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in China, said many of its members have already invested in Guangdong. For example, Charoen Pokphand Group, a Thai conglomerate, has partnered with Shenzhen-based Ping An Insurance and several banks have established headquarters in Shenzhen.

“Our members are confident in expanding their operations in China,” Viboontanasarn said.

Their itinerary also included visits to Qianhai, the Guangming District Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, and Hongqiao Park.

“I was impressed with the strong ecosystem that Shenzhen, especially Qianhai, offers. It provides almost everything, including infrastructure and facilities,” said Viboontanasarn.

In 2023, 9,738 new foreign-invested enterprises were set up in Shenzhen, accounting for 16.4% of the national total.