Overseas talent choose Xi'an for innovation, entrepreneurship

Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, has been particularly successful in attracting rafts of students from around the world to study and live there in recent years.

As the core area of the Fengdong New City in the China (Shaanxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Fengdong Free Trade & Trade in Services Industrial Park in the Xixian New Area – a national development zone co-built by Xi'an and Xianyang – has become the first industrial park with a focus on free trade since the approval of Shaanxi FTZ.

With its increasingly innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem, the park has attracted the attention of international talent for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mariam from Morocco is a typical representative among them. She is a master's degree student majoring in business administration at Chang'an University.

During a research and exchange activity organized by the university, she was deeply impressed by the industrial development, innovation advantages and policies targeting international students at Fengdong Free Trade & Trade in Services Industrial Park.

With the help of the park, in early August 2023, online advertising services provider Netjoy offered Mariam a part-time online anchor job. These days, Mariam fronts a livestreaming program called Mariam in China in the Shijingli Scenic Area and in the Fengdong Free Trade & Trade in Services Industrial Park.

Through livestreaming, she promotes the historical culture, local customs and tourism industry of Xi'an to Morocco and netizens around the world. She also promotes the historical culture of Morocco and its exquisite crafts to people in China.

Coincidentally, Shamsh from Afghanistan, also recently embarked on an entrepreneurial venture in the park.

After learning about the park's policies, procedures and industrial support directions for foreign talent, he gained a clearer picture of his future entrepreneurial plans.

"I really love Xi'an. After coming to Xi'an, I found that many people are interested in Afghan products,” he said.

"I hope to bring gemstones and handmade carpets from my hometown to China, promoting the development of my hometown and contributing to international exchanges and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative," Shamsh added.

Currently, the Fengdong Free Trade & Trade in Services Industrial Park is building an Overseas Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Center to provide one-stop services, such as work permit processing, communications and coordination, the commercialization of achievements and business consulting, for young people from abroad.

In the current year in particular, with more and more groups of international students coming to the park for visits, many have expressed their desire to work, start up businesses and realize their life dreams there.