Harbin encourages foreign investment in retirement organizations

Harbin recently issued a implementing advice focusing on fully opening up its elderly care market, with the relaxed access to foreign capitals. By 2020, the amount of beds in government-run old-age care institutions will drop to less than 30 percent of the total number in Harbin. 

Specifically, foreign investors are suggested to invest in profit-making old-age care institutions in Harbin and enjoy the same industrial preferential policies as domestic enterprises after going through the process of industrial and commercial registration in accordance with the law. Foreign investors shall be encouraged to set up non-profit pension institutions, and enjoy the same support policies covering land, tax and finance after corresponding registration. Overseas investors are allowed to set up integrated old-age care institutions including but not limited to medical institutions (only for joint ventures and cooperation), rehabilitation institutions, as well as tourism institutions.

Additionally, the government is determined to introduce both domestic and foreign funds to establish and operate such institutions, striving to bring in 3-5 domestic and foreign renowned brands to settle down in Harbin by 2020. At the same time, implement the supporting policies to build a cluster of old-age care industries. As a result, the city will cultivate more than 10 leading old-age care enterprises and 5-10 well-known brands by 2020.

The city will also support the establishment of community care centers and stations for the elders, building embedded old-age care institutions in old urban areas and newly-built residential areas, thus promoting the integration of institutional old-age care and community-based old-age care. Besides, the system of "one-card-pass" is especially designed for elders along with providing self-purchase services for aged-care.

In the end, relying on the landscape facilities including the Sun Island, Central Avenue, and Yabuli Resort, it plans to build a cluster of tourism and health industries integrating leisure vacation, medical service and old-age service.

Elderly people at an aged-care center [Photo/IC]