As the provincial capital, Guangzhou is the political, economic, technology, education and cultural centre of Guangdong. The municipality has an area of 7,434 sq km and, as of the end of 2017, its permanent population stood at 14.49 million. The city lies on the northern edge of the Pearl River Delta and is the central city for the South China region, as well as a key transportation and communications hub. In the 2016 China Urban Competitiveness Report, as compiled by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Guangzhou ranked fifth for “comprehensive economic competitiveness”. In terms of 2017 container throughput, it was also the mainland’s fourth busiest port.
Major Development Areas
National level: Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, etc.
Provincial level: Baiyun Industrial Park, Yunpu Industrial Park, etc.
Positioning
Guangzhou focuses on advanced manufacturing industries with three pillar industries, namely automobiles, electronics and petrochemical industry as the engine of Guangzhou’s development. They are supported by six cutting-edge production bases for automobiles, ship and marine engineering equipment, nuclear power equipment, computer numerical control equipment, petrochemicals and fine steel manufacturing. There are also more than 50 industrial areas and parks, focusing on automobiles, petrochemicals and electronics in the east, port-related equipment manufacturing in the south, and airport-based economy in the north.
Core Competencies
At present, Guangzhou’s high-tech industry is flourishing. In 2016, the output value of its high-tech products represented 46% of the total output value of all industrial enterprises above a designated scale.
Guangzhou was also designated as a national commercial distribution hub under the 2015-2020 China Commercial Distribution Node Cities Layout Plan, a recognition of its nationally-connected network of motorways and railways.
Of all the mainland cities engaged in cross-border e-trading, Guangzhou’s level of investment and overall involvement has seen it established as far and away the most significant player.
According to the city’s own 13th Five-Year Plan, Guangzhou will be developed into a key national central city, an international commercial centre and an integrated transportation hub, complete with a robust shipping, logistics, trade and finance services sector.
Guangzhou’s Top Ten Policies Support Overseas Entrepreneurship
- Startup Project Funding
- Financing channel support
- Optimize the market environment
- Intellectual Property Protection
- Implement tax benefits
- Create an offshore talent base for overseas talent
- Connecting talent green card system
- Startup Carrier ConstructionStartup Carrier Construction
- Government Procurement Support
- Startup Service Support