Favorable policies in Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone helping to tighten up cross-Straits ties

As the closest area on the Chinese mainland to Taiwan province, the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone in Fujian province has made great strides in promoting cross-Straits cooperation and development.

Over the past five years, the Pingtan government has worked out a series of preferential policies to offer Taiwan's enterprises a better business environment and opportunities, according to local officials.

Young entrepreneurs from Taiwan who start businesses in Pingtan can get an entrepreneurship grant worth 50,000 to 300,000 yuan ($7,105 to $42,630) from the government.

Among those taking advantage of these policies is TPK Holding's touch panel plant in Pingtan.

Established in 2013, the plant is an important part of the Taiwan-based TPK Holding to lead the world in touch-screen technologies and solutions.

"The local government has solved the problem of wastewater discharge for us and provided subsidies totaling 5 million yuan," said He Fangji, a senior staff member at TPK's Pingtan plant.

Statistics show that TPK Pingtan's output has increased at an average annual growth rate of 15 percent.

This year's output is estimated to reach 108 million yuan, He said. "Pingtan and its neighboring areas have a broad market prospect and we have plans to construct a production base here in the future."

In the Aoqian Taiwan Town, which is a small goods trade market built by the Pingtan government, merchants can enjoy allowances for logistics, house renting and electricity.

At the end of March, there were 150 Taiwan people working in the town, accounting for nearly 20 percent of personnel.

Last year, Huang Yu-sheng from Taiwan opened an artisan chocolate shop in the town, which has gained popularity on the internet.

"We need a test base to expand sales on the Chinese mainland. The best choice for us is Pingtan," Huang said.

"Pingtan has a unique advantage in geography and favorable policies here have relieved pressure in operations."

With a combined investment of up to 40 billion yuan, more than 1,000 enterprises from Taiwan have been attracted to Pingtan so far. They cover industries such as electronic information, cross-Straits logistics and tourism.

In 2019, the area welcomed 138 Taiwan businesses, up 53.33 percent from a year earlier.

Pingtan opened a new sea-transport route in July to connect Kaohsiung, a city in southwestern Taiwan.

"The new route means Pingtan has made direct shipping connections with Taiwan's three major cities, starting a new chapter of the cross-Straits maritime traffic," said Liang Jinyan, deputy director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Transportation.

Since 2011, the passenger volume of the cross-Straits sea routes has exceeded 900,000. More than 40 percent of the passengers are Taiwan residents.

The sea routes have become a vital channel for cultural and economic exchanges between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. They have especially boosted the development of industries such as seafood trade and e-commerce, said local officials.

zhanglinwan@chinadaily.com.cn