Association launched to promote investment in Guangdong

Top officials from Guangdong have thrown their weight behind a new investment promotion body launched recently in the province, focusing on attracting multinational high-tech projects and providing a bridge between the government and investors.

The Guangdong Investment Promotion Association was launched by investment providers Guangzhou CDC Group and invest101.com, and investment seekers such as Guangzhou Development District, Sino-Singapore Knowledge City, Tianhe district of Guangzhou, Chancheng district of Foshan, and industrial parks in Heyuan, Yunfu and Meizhou.

The founding ceremony of Guangdong Investment Promotion Association is held in Guangzhou on June 23. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The association has already signed up about 100 members including industrial leaders such as P&G, Danone, Pepsi, Yakult, Carl Zeiss, Shell, Mitsubishi, and Fujitsu.

Ma Hua, deputy director-general of Guangdong Commerce Department, said the association would seek to cash-in of the national Belt and Road Initiative. “By configuring an all-round setup and increasing openness in the economy, Guangdong will benefit greatly,” Ma said.

“The province is facing both opportunities and challenges in its investment promotions,” said Ma. “We hope the association will play a positive role in capitalizing on the resources home and abroad, bringing the advantages of each member to full play, improving promotional efficiency and making active contributions to the province’s economic development.”

Liu Yuelun, chairman of the Guangzhou municipal committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, makes a keynote speech during the ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Yuelun, chairman of the Guangzhou municipal committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference said the founding of the association comes “just at the right time”.

“The past investment promotions have brought not only the capital and technology of multinationals to China but also their professionals and management ideas; their contribution to the nation’s economic development is by no means negligible,” Liu said.

“Without investment promotions, it would be impossible for us to know the development trends in the world economy, particularly in science, technology and finance,” he said, adding that the role of investment promotions is becoming even more crucial as competition for investment is intensifying nationwide and even worldwide.

Hubert Xu, chairman of the association, (sixth from right), proposes a toast at the ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The top political adviser for Guangzhou suggested that the new association should continue to keep its eyes on multinationals, especially high-tech ones, while increasing services to private-sector enterprises, such as those involved in advanced manufacturing industry.

Liu said that the association will setup an investment information platform, to offer one-stop service to investors, and establish standards of business operation on par with international practices.

Liu also highlighted the significance of the association as a bridge between the government and enterprises, between investors and research institutes and between top professionals and investors.