Guangzhou further promotes business environment reform

The city of Guangzhou [Photo/VCG]

Guangzhou government issued a document on Several Measures for Further Optimizing the Business Environment in Guangzhou in early April to further implement the reform of the business environment.

The document covers 43 measures in total, including building an intelligent government affairs platform, striving for two national pilot demonstration areas, and carrying out crucial projects to improve the business environment in 10 key areas, such as the establishment of enterprises, the handling of building permits, real estate registration, payment of taxes, cross-border trade, access to credit and intellectual property protection.

People deal with their businesses through the intelligent government affairs system. [Photo/Nanfang Daily]

The intelligent government affairs platform aims to achieve the sharing of government data, the integration of corporate approvals and establish a connection between government services and required data.

Based on the platform, Guangzhou will implement the joint examination and approval of electric, water and gas external line projects, and comprehensively integrate planning, housing construction, public security, transportation, municipal, water and other enterprise-related approval matters by the end of April.

The city will also realize online services in key areas and for high-frequency issues by the end of June, integrating the service windows of government departments into one comprehensive window to handle issues easily by the end of December.

People consult and handle business at the comprehensive windows. [Photo/Nanfang Daily] 

The document demands the promotion of Guangzhou High-tech Zone to a national business environment reform and innovation experimental zone and of Nansha Free Trade Zone to a national business environment reform special zone, as well as a cooperation demonstration zone for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Guangzhou High-tech Zone and Nansha Free Trade Zone will establish open and interoperable regional innovation systems, gather innovative elements to attract and connect global innovation resources, and promote effective integration with Hong Kong and Macao commercial systems, industry supervision, and urban planning and construction. 

Among all the crucial projects, water, electricity and gas access are the most concerning issues for enterprises and citizens. The document makes clear that the processing time for high-voltage power access shall not exceed 15 working days, and the processing time for low-voltage power access shall not exceed 3 working days; the total administrative time for water installation reporting shall not exceed 14 working days; and the total time for administrative approval of gas access projects will also not exceed 14 working days.

In addition, the document mentions that the start-up time of an enterprise will be reduced to 2.5 working days in 2019, and to two working days in 2020.