Foshan is located on the west bank of the Pearl River and, together with Guangzhou, it forms the Guangzhou-Foshan metropolitan circle. The city is divided into five administrative districts – Chancheng, Nanhai, Shunde, Gaoming and Sanshui – and extends across an area of 3,798 sq km. As of the end of 2017, its permanent population stood at 7.65 million, making it the third largest city in Guangdong, trailing only Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Major Development Areas
National level: Foshan National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone
Provincial level: Foshan Nanhai Economic Development Zone, Foshan Chancheng Economic Development Zone, Foshan Nanhai Industrial Zone, Foshan Gaoming Cangjiang Industrial Zone, Foshan Sanshui Industrial Zone, and Foshan Shunde Industrial Zone
Positioning
With regard to gross industrial output value, privately-owned companies account for about 70% of all the city’s commercial enterprises. Among the city’s key businesses are Midea, Country Garden and Galanz, with local enterprises also producing a number of the mainland’s most high-profile brands.
Foshan’s economy is manufacturing-based, including industries in which Foshan enjoys strengths such as machinery equipment, household appliances, ceramic building materials, metal processing and metal products, textiles and garments, electronic information, food and beverages, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, household goods, etc., as well as emerging industries including optoelectronics, environmental protection, new materials, new medicines, and new energy vehicles.
Core Competencies
In 2015, Foshan was designated as a pilot city for the reform, transformation and upgrading of China’s manufacturing base. As a result, the city has emerged as a key player in a number of crucial industry sectors, including machinery and equipment, electronic information, food and beverages, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and homeware.
Over recent years, several major businesses, including FAW-Volkswagen, Beiqi Foton Motor, CRRC and China Sun Pharmaceutical Machinery, have initiated projects in the city. Many of these have related to emerging industrial sectors, most notably high-tech and electronic information, semi-conductor lighting, energy-saving and environmental protection and new-energy cars.
In order to attract and nurture industrial technological services, the Sino-German Industrial Service Zone was established in Foshan as a high-end international co-operation zone for all of Guangdong’s industries. The Zone now plays a lead role in country-level co-operation between China and Germany and has a particular focus on developing Foshan’s high-end technology services as a means of facilitating and strengthening co-operation with its European partner’s high-tech sector.
Over recent years, Foshan has also looked to upgrade the development level of its service industries, with a particular focus on its producer services. This has seen it prioritise five particular sectors – finance, modern logistics, conventions and exhibitions, industrial design and outsourcing of services.
In terms of the city’s agricultural sector, this is dominated by ornamental flowers, aquatic products, and stock farming activities. It is also the site of the mainland’s largest moth orchid production facilities, as well as being acclaimed as China’s hometown for both eels and freshwater fry.
Deepen the reform of commercial system and optimize the business environment
- Relaxation of access increases and further stimulates market vitality and social creativity.
- Strengthen the supervision and superior environment to further improve the scientific level of post-event supervision.
- Service companies help development and further optimize the entrepreneurial innovation environment.
More detail: Foshan to strengthen its ties with Guangzhou on GBA construction