New measures draw Taiwan people to mainland

A visitor plays with an exhibit at the forum. Wei Peiquan / Xinhua

Speaking at the forum, Cheng Tien-li, a freelance writer from Taiwan, explained the potential benefits. "At present, it would take me two weeks to open an account with a State-run bank because my documents would need to be reviewed and the procedure is complicated," she said.

"However, the staff at the bank said I will soon be able to apply for a credit card, just like a mainland resident. There will be no extra requirements or time taken when we (non-mainland residents) apply."

Huang, the handbag producer, said previously released policies - designed to support startups and entrepreneurs age 45 and younger - prompted him to expand outside Taiwan: "There was every reason to shift my business to the mainland, mainly the preferential policies for young people that have been released in recent years."

His workshop is located in the Taiwan pavilion of the Xiamen section of the Fujian Free Trade Zone, where the policies allow qualified businesspeople from Taiwan to claim a 100 percent refund of the rent they pay for business premises in the first year of operations, and they also receive a housing subsidy of up to 2,000 yuan ($295) per month.

In addition, measures released in January last year mean high-end professionals from Taiwan who earn more than 300,000 yuan a year can claim a refund of 25 percent of the income tax they pay to the Xiamen government, while "extraordinary talents" - highly respected individuals - can receive startup funding of as much as 1.5 million yuan over several years.

Business development

"Who wouldn't be tempted by these incentives?" said Bill Chow, senior manager at Dayongqi Trade Co, which has made seafood-based sauces in Taiwan for several decades.

"My company began developing its business in the mainland a year ago. We decided to establish branches in Xiamen and Shandong province because the mainland's large population provides a huge market - Taiwan can't compete."

After conducting market research in Shandong, Chow discovered that a number of food producers in the province met the standards of food safety required by his company, which has now subcontracted production to a local producer.

"It's more efficient to produce our sauces in the province. The factory's standard of hygiene is very satisfactory - the opposite of the food safety concerns we heard about in recent media reports."

One major attraction is that in the coming years the mainland's export tax is expected to be lower than its counterpart in Taiwan, according to Chow.